The Arizona Diamondbacks’ addition of Randy Johnson took the No. 5 spot in a ranking of the best free-agent signings in MLB history by ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle.
Before the signing, Johnson played for the Montreal Expos, Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros across 11 seasons. He earned five All-Star nods and won the 1995 American League Cy Young Award during that time frame.
The Diamondbacks handed Johnson a four-year, $52.4 million contract once he hit free agency in the fall of 1998.
The Big Unit’s impact in Arizona was immediate in 1999 as he recorded 364 strikeouts in 271.2 innings for an ERA of 2.48. He not only became the third pitcher in MLB history to win the Cy Young Award in both leagues that first year, but helped the Diamondbacks improve from 65-97 to 100-62 in just their second season as a franchise.
Johnson took home the NL Cy Young in all four years of his original contract with Arizona, a feat that is more than enough for Doolittle to elevate the signing into a top-five spot.
His lowest strikeout total during those years was 334. He averaged 9.5 bWAR, 20.4 wins and 354 whiffs. It’s a four-year run as good as any pitcher has ever had.
The undisputed highlight of Johnson’s tenure as a Diamondback was the 2001 season.
His career-high 372 strikeouts to just 71 walks in 249.2 innings led to a 2.49 ERA and a 21-6 record that helped the Diamondbacks finish 92-70 and win the NL West.
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After surrendering six hits and three earned runs in Game 2 of the NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Big Unit turned up the heat. Johnson struck out 37 batters and was charged with only three earned runs in four straight victories as a starter across the NLCS and World Series.
However, his shining moment in the Fall Classic came in a relief appearance.
In a 2-2 ballgame in the bottom of the eighth of Game 7 against the New York Yankees, Johnson came out of the bullpen and didn’t allow a single base runner in 1.1 innings. That paved the way for Luis Gonzalez to walk it off for the franchise’s first and only World Series title.
He split World Series MVP honors with pitcher Curt Schilling.
Following his original four-year deal, the Big Unit spent an additional four seasons in Arizona (2003-04 and 2007-08). He played for the Yankees and San Francisco Giants before retiring in 2010.
He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015 as a first-ballot selection and chose to have his enshrined likeness wear a Diamondbacks cap. That same year, the team retired his No. 51.
The four signings ranked above Johnson were Barry Bonds to the Giants (No. 1), Greg Maddux to the Atlanta Braves (No. 2), David Ortiz to the Boston Red Sox (No. 3) and Larry Walker to the Colorado Rockies (No. 4).
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