Cubs Sign Reed Johnson
Bruce Levine on ESPN1000 is reporting that the Cubs have come to terms with recently released Blue Jay Reed Johnson. Johnson was a 17th round pick of the Blue Jays in 1999, back when Tim Wilkin was running things over there and I'm sure the connection helped his cause with the Cubs. He's mostly played the corner outfield spots in his career, but has played 64 games in center in the majors. He had a great 2006, hitting 319/390/479, but has a career line of 281/342/410 with little ability to steal a base. He's also coming off a back injury that derailed his 2007 season. His scouting report on TSN.ca says:
Hustle is his strongest suit. He makes consistent contact and hits well
with runners in scoring position--especially against lefties.
Hustle? Mix that with a little grit and you've got yourself a ballpayer.
BP projected him at 262/324/387 this year which certainly isn't encouraging. On the other hand, he's hit 308/371/462 versus lefties over his career, and that'll likely be his primary role with the Cubs. It's a low-risk, high reward deal for the Cubs to fill out the need for a right-handed hitting center field option. If he stinks up the joint, he'll be easy to cut, and if he hits and plays "good enough" center field defense, it'll be a wise, low-cost move that didn't cost us any trade chips.
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#1 Re: Cubs Sign Reed Johnson
it'll be interesting to see what this does for the Cubs bench...
Epat got sent down today, but will this cost Murton his job?
Blanco, Ward, Johnson seem set
Two spots for
Murton, Fontenot, Cedeno and Cintron
Cedeno is out of options, so he seems like a no-brainer and that means one spot for Murton, Fontenot or Cintron. It'll depend if they want an extra infielder or outfielder.
#4 Re: Cubs Sign Reed Johnson
Gotta think that Murton and Cedeno are the two there, unless Cedeno gets shipped out for Roberts. In that case, of course, the bench gets much better. Murton's of no value in the minors and the Cubs probably want him up in case Fuku has trouble with lefties. Cintron's had a few injuries - might he start the year on the DL?
#35 For a small market team
Murton might have more value in trade if we kept him in the minors to "save" his Free Agent clock, so I could see them keeping Cintron, especially because Dero can be used in the OF.
#36 Re: For a small market team
Murton should see plenty of PT with KFuk's struggles against LHP and Soriano's gimpy legs. No reason you cannot get 200-225 at bats out of him at this point. He has more value on the roster than he does in a trade at this point, IMHO.
#10 Re: Cubs Sign Reed Johnson
A Very Cubby comment -- but, right now, this is a fun team to root for. From an outsider's perspective (and having briefly met the players/coaches with my 10-year old son at a "meet the team" function at Wrigley last year):
- Ward, Theriot, DeRosa and Dempster seem like very good guys who you enjoy rooting for
- Kerry Wood represents everything Chicagoans want to see in themselves - talented, tough and resilient
- It will be fun to watch Pie and Fukudome play the OF and gun down runners
- Zambrano could be great
- Lee and Ramirez bring stability to the lineup and have been fixtures for a while
- Marmol coming into a game is an electric event
- Rich Hill's curve can be a thing of beauty
Never sure about the "chemistry" thing, but this would be a fun bunch to get behind.
#13 Re: Cubs Sign Reed Johnson
Oh come on, it has to be Murton & Cedeno. What kind of team would send those two down to the minors when they'll obviously need them mid-season?
....oh wait
#2 Re: Cubs Sign Reed Johnson
I like it. Low risk, decent reward.
#3 Re: Cubs Sign Reed Johnson
Also, quote of the day, which I saw on Yahoo.
"Apparently, J.D. Drew is in midseason form."
Brilliant.
#5 Re: Cubs Sign Reed Johnson
While I mocked the idea of Johnson losing his spot to Eckstein in the previous thread, I do like this deal.
It does seem like a very low risk, moderate reward deal.
And if he can just be decent against LHP, he will be able to fill his needed role.
#6 I like the deal
but I kinda hope we don't just run Johnson out there to start the year. It's time that we give Pie a decent shot, and hurting his confidence by platooning him is not the way to go. Hopefully Johnson is a bench player that can become a platoon (or, ugh, regular) player if needed.
#8 Re: I like the deal
That won't be an issue, at least right off the bat.
Pie will be starting in CF, Johnson will be a bench player.
#7 Re: Cubs Sign Reed Johnson
Unless Pie does some really bad playing in the next couple of games or gets hurt, I think he will be playing the majority of the games
#9 Re: Cubs Sign Reed Johnson
Hey..until Pie can hit at leat .670 in ST, he has no business in the majors...
After all, the Cubs have soured on him.....I bet we can get Juan Pierre for Pie, Murton, and Gallagher?
(please note sarcasm)
#12 Re: Cubs Sign Reed Johnson
Throw in Pat Burrell and you have a deal.
#11 One would have to think
Murton's OBP, nice average (even though ST), and the fact that he gets his uniform soiled often, should be the guy getting the gig.
Fonty is...well, Fonty. With Ward, Dome, and Pie, its probably gonna be enough.
DeRosa and Dumb-ass Ronny should be sufficient to cover IF replacement needs, I'd think.
#14 Cubs Preview for Deadspin
Kinda shows why most other fans think Cub fans are not too bright-
http://deadspin.com/371030/baseball-season-preview...
#15 Re: Cubs Preview for Deadspin
pretty sure the writer was leaning heavy on the sarcasm there....
#20 Re: Cubs Preview for Deadspin
I know, but he had the Cubs beating the Pirates for their last World Series victory in Wrigley Field.
Cmon.
#22 Re: Cubs Preview for Deadspin
yeah, that was quite an oversight....
#25 Re: Cubs Preview for Deadspin
That wasn't the only oversight.
There was this:
Add Fuko to the mix, and the Cubs now have four .300 hitters capable of 40-45 home runs and 100-125 RBIs.
I will tell you this... if the Cubs have 4 guys who hit 40+ homeruns, they will be in the World Series.
And although Soriano will probably insist on leading off, with Barrett finally gone, this year he should get more chances to knock in hitters from the bottom of the order.
Umm... what? I have no idea how Barrett being gone will have anything to do with Soriano have more to knock in.
Oh yea... and they are going to "sign" Roberts?
#27 Re: Cubs Preview for Deadspin
the Cubs now have four .300 hitters capable of 40-45 home runs and 100-125 RBIs.
I would be willing to bet we don't have one guy who hits 40 HR's, let alone bats .300 AND gets 100 RBI's.
But we do have 3 that are capable (Alf, ARam and Lee), but there is no way in the world K-Fuk puts up those kind of numbers, not even close.
#29 Re: Cubs Preview for Deadspin
I'm going to consider that it being a column for Deadspin, known for its sarcasm, and give the writer the benefit of the doubt and assume he was kidding around on the projections and the Barrett bashing.
#33 Re: Cubs Preview for Deadspin
Clearly it was Michael Barrett who confused the facts for this poor writer. MB just can't leave people alone.
#16 Re: Cubs Sign Reed Johnson
$1.3 MM? I mean, who were they bidding against? It's not a ton of money, but it looks like he's already getting 750K from the Jays. They couldn't have offered him league min or 500K?
#17 Roster set
Roster has really shaken itself out.
Soto
Lee
DeRosa
Theriot
Ramirez
Sori
Pie
KFuk
Blanco
Ward
Reed Johnson
Murton
Cedeno
With Fontenot in Iowa if an infielder goes down and Fuld/EPatt there if an outfielder goes down.
#18 Re: Cubs Sign Reed Johnson
Fwiw, Johnson is still 2 years from free agency, so the Cubs have his rights for next year if they want them. He'll be arbitration eligible of course, but relatively cheap.
#42 Re: Cubs Sign Reed Johnson
I have a question...Johnson had a relatively large contract with the Blue Jays, no? And since he was released, they're on the hook for most of it, correct? So if the Cubs go to arbitration, are they responsible for offering him 80% of his Blue Jays salary at minimum? If so, then he wouldn't be that cheap. Or am I missing something?
#43 Re: Cubs Sign Reed Johnson
He signed a 1 year, 3.275M contract.
I believe that since it was a one year deal, it is not guaranteed. Toronto still has to pay him $750,000, but the actual contract is void, I believe.
#44 Re: Cubs Sign Reed Johnson
you could be right on that one djchi, but I'll defer to AZ Phil if he wants to answer it. Not exactly sure what the rules are in this situation. He signed for $3.275 MM in January, $750K was guaranteed. But only signed for $1.3MM with the Cubs. It would seem a bit unfair to use the $3.275MM as a barometer for next year since the most he'll make is $2.05MM this year.
#19 Re: Cubs Sign Reed Johnson
Plus he kind of looks like the Drowning Pool guitarist. So that's a good thing I suppose.
... just sayin'.
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