11/15/08 1:52 PM EST
Big Unit on Cubs' radar
North Siders one of six teams to contact southpaw's agents

By Nick Zaccardi / MLB.com

CHICAGO -- With Kerry Wood out of the picture and Ryan Dempster and Jake Peavy out in the open, the Cubs are considering another big name -- the Big Unit.

Free agent left-hander Randy Johnson, 45, would draw interest from the Cubs if the club is unable to re-sign the All-Star Dempster or acquire the former Cy Young Award winner Peavy. Johnson, a likely future Hall of Famer, is five wins shy of 300.

The Cubs are one of six teams who have contacted Johnson's Chicago-based agents, Al Nero and Barry Meister. The pitcher is unlikely to re-sign with the Diamondbacks.

Johnson knows Lou Piniella from playing for him in Seattle, and he would prefer to remain in the National League.

"It's very preliminary," Nero said Saturday, two days after Johnson filed for free agency. "Obviously, there is a tremendous amount of mutual respect between Lou and Randy. It would be natural for us to consider this."

In 2008, Johnson went 11-10 with a 3.91 ERA in 30 starts for Arizona. For a 21-year career, he is 295-160 with a 3.26 ERA and five Cy Young Awards. He is 13-0 lifetime against the Cubs.

While Padres GM Kevin Towers said Thursday that negotiations on a Peavy deal with the Braves and Cubs were dead and the Dempster situation doesn't appear close to being settled this early in free agency, it's unlikely a deal for Johnson would happen any time soon.

Nick Zaccardi is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.