Randy Johnson, anyone?

Thirty-six pitches into the second half of the season, the latest in a string of never-ending crises arrived for the Cubs.

It's not inconceivable those 36 pitches Thursday night will be the last ones Mark Prior throws this season. This is not how Ron Santo drew it up, let alone Dusty Baker, but it doesn't mean it's time to add 2004 to the list of the Cubs' most disappointing seasons.

I say that for two reasons: 1) the Cubs have enough pitching to win the nine-team race for the National League's wild-card spot without Prior, and 2) if Jim Hendry and his Tribune Co. bosses want to keep the pedal to the metal, they might be able to go into the playoffs with a rotation including Johnson, Kerry Wood, Greg Maddux and either Carlos Zambrano or Matt Clement, with the other moving to the bullpen.

Johnson, Arizona's 40-year-old All-Star, is very much there for the taking, and possibly in play on both sides of Chicago. The White Sox, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Anaheim Angels and New York Mets are believed to have expressed interest in the Unit.

Though the Cubs also were mentioned in rumors coming from the All-Star Game, their interest level is something of a mystery. But if Prior seriously reinjured his elbow throwing 30 pitches in the first inning against Milwaukee on Thursday night, Hendry and Dennis FitzSimons, Tribune Co. chairman, president and chief executive officer, will have to seriously consider making a run at him.

Any team wanting to acquire Johnson faces three hurdles.

The first is fitting his $16 million salary into the payroll through 2005, which is made somewhat easier by him deferring $6 million a year. The second is meeting Arizona's trade demands, believed to be young catching, corner infielders and pitching. The third, and maybe the most difficult, is convincing Johnson to waive his no-trade clause.

During an hour-long interview Monday, Johnson made it clear he would rather not go down with the ship in Arizona. In considering possible deals, however, he indicated he would go only where he thought he could get to the World Series.

Can either Chicago team meet that requirement?

That's a good question, given that neither has been to one since 1959. The way they play between now and July 31, when Johnson probably will be dealt, will be crucial.

The East Valley Tribune's Ed Price on Thursday quoted "a person who speaks often with Randy Johnson" as saying he wants to go to the Yankees. But a weak farm system complicates dealings for Yankees' GM Brian Cashman.

Both the Cubs and White Sox have homegrown talent that interests the Diamondbacks, although the price might be beyond their respective choking points.

The Cubs could offer a package heavy on pitching—including two or three from a group including Francis Beltran, Jon Leicester, Todd Wellemeyer, Sergio Mitre and minor-leaguers Bobby Brownlie, Sean Marshall and Renyel Pinto—along with first baseman Jason Dubois and third baseman Brendan Harris. If the Diamondbacks insist on the crown jewels, like 19-year-old center fielder Felix Pie and right-hander Angel Guzman, it would be tough to pull the trigger.

The trouble with making a four- or five-for-one package to get a headliner like Johnson—assuming, first off, FitzSimons would approve it—is it might limit Hendry's ability to make improvements elsewhere.

Even with the injuries to Prior and Wood, the Cubs have had lowest ERA by starters in the NL. The places they must improve are the bullpen and, if possible, shortstop. They're averaging only 3.5 runs in 23 games since Sosa returned from the disabled list.

Though it would send a huge statement to fans and players alike to nab Johnson, it might be wiser to go after a lesser starter—although the shortage of available starters means even Pittsburgh's Kris Benson could be tough to get—or even simply to bide time.

Glendon Rusch, who threw 51/3 scoreless innings in Thursday's 4-1 victory over Milwaukee, has been a godsend. Ryan Dempster, a 15-game winner in 2001 for Florida, is about ready to be tested after a quick return from reconstructive elbow surgery. Mitre has a 1.99 ERA in 40 innings since going back to Iowa.

Rushing Prior back should not be an option.

While it was Achilles' tendon problems that initially sidelined Prior in spring training, his elbow has been barking as often as not this season. Baker has handled him carefully, not allowing him to throw more than 99 pitches in any of his eight starts, but he has not found the consistency that carried the Cubs to a Central title a year ago.

It might be time to start thinking about getting Prior right for the rest of his career, not the rest of this season. The Cubs can get to the playoffs without him.

If they want to do more than just make the playoffs, there are options available, none better, and definitely none more problematic, than Johnson.