Randy Johnson
© AFP/Getty Images/File

NEW YORK (AFP) - Citing an unnamed source, the the Newark Star-Ledger newspaper reported Monday that the clubs are negotiating on terms to send the 43-year-old southpaw back to a team for which he pitched from 1999 through 2004.

That included a seven-game victory over the Yankees in the 2001 World Series that saw Johnson share Most Valuable Player honors.

The five-time Cy Young Award winner as a league's top pitcher is preparing for the final season of a three-year deal worth 43 million dollars. It would be his 20th in the major leagues.

Johnson is set to be paid 16 million dollars in 2007 but he underwent back surgery after this past season to repair a herniated disk in his lower back and might not be ready for the start of the 2007 season.

Johnson, nicknamed "Big Unit" for his lank frame and power, is 34-19 in his two seasons with the Yankees despite relatively lofty earned-run averages of 5.00 last season and 4.37 in 2005.

The newspaper said Johnson had not requested a trade.

Johnson has a career record of 280-147 pitching for Montreal, Seattle, Houston, Arizona and the Yankees.

©AFP