Anatomy of an Impasse

The first news seemed to have come from ESPN.com...
'Agent Matt Sosnick told ESPN.com that negotiations between the Marlins and Johnson have reached an 'impasse," and Johnson expects to play under a one-year deal in 2010....
'"Based on our conversations, there's no chance of doing a long-term deal with the Marlins," Sosnick said. "We made it clear that it was going to be this year or it wasn't going to happen. It was now or never. And the Marlins agreed."...
'Johnson and his agents used Zack Greinke's four-year, $38 million contract with the Kansas City Royals as a framework in contract discussions. Sosnick said talks broke down when the Marlins declined to offer more than a three-year deal -- which would buy out only one year of free agency for Johnson. Sosnick declined to discuss any differences over money in negotiations....
'...(")We were willing to give the Marlins what we thought was a significant break, but they just weren't comfortable going to the fourth year."
'Florida general manager Michael Hill declined to address the status of talks Friday.
'"Josh is our player, he's under [contractual] control, and we like him a lot," Hill said. "But we don't comment on any of our contract negotiations publicly."'
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Then Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post came up with some money figures...
'Johnson, 25, is entering his second winter of arbitration but was hoping to sign a four-year contract worth at least $40 million.
'The Marlins were believed to be willing to go no longer than three years for about $22 million.
'When the sides could not resolve their differences, the Marlins said they preferred to go year-to-year.
'"They made it very clear they only wanted to talk about a one-year deal,' Sosnick said.'
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MLB.com reported using information credited to ESPN and the Post.
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Juan C. of the Sun-Sentinel got more Sosnick quotes...
'"No one's getting any kind of a discount now," said Sosnick, who also represents Ricky Nolasco. "This was the last chance for a team to get a bargain for Josh... They money wasn't even the issue. It was shocking they wouldn't do a fourth year. Josh Johnson is going to sign one of the biggest free agent pitching deals in history. If it's in the National League, he's just going to come back and keep beating the Marlins."...
'Sosnick said President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest told him guaranteeing a fourth year was too rich for his blood. A team spokesman said the Marlins do not comment on contract negotiations, adding "We refuse to negotiate through the press."
'"The way it was sold was like they were doing us a favor by offering three years," Sosnick said. "We were willing to discount the free agent years by a lot, both of them. They wouldn't even talk about [the fourth year]...This is his last year there for sure."...
'"...They'll trade [Johnson] and get prospects back for him. There are going to be a lot of teams calling in the next couple of days."
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Finally Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald got more of the softer side of Sosnick...
'"I don't know if things are totally done, hopefully not. But it is one of those business things in baseball that you kinda don't want to have to go through," he said....
'Asked if there was any chance that negotiations could be revived, Sosnick replied: "I think Larry is an honest guy. He made it clear to me that it [a 3-year deal] is not happening. Given that, I believe him."...
'"If they're not willing to give four years to Josh Johnson, I don't know what pitchers they're going to sign," Sosnick said....
'"It their business. I'm not judging their decision-making, because the Marlins seem to make a lot of very good decisions when it comes to personnel."'

MORE: Early in-depth commentary at Marlin Maniac.