Yesterday, the Baltimore Sun reported that the Orioles were on the verge to signing first baseman Nick Johnson to a minor league deal. Well, this deal is another in a good amount of ‘value’ or ‘bargain-bin’ contracts that Dan Duquette has offered to veterans and minor league free agents this season.
The Orioles are closing in on a minor league deal with veteran first baseman Nick Johnson that would include an invitation to spring training.
A deal could be announced as early as Thursday, an industry source said.
Johnson had his best season with the Nationals in 2006, when he put up a .290/.428/.520 line with 23 homers and 77 RBIs. He’s been riddled with injuries over the past few seasons and spent the majority of last season with the Indians’ Triple-A team in Columbus, Ohio, hitting .201/.316/.322 in 184 at bats.
Johnson offers another interesting option at first base, where he has a .992 career fielding percentage. He also owns a career .401 on-base percentage, a statistic that surely made him attractive to Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette.
Here’s more from Roch’s blog.
Johnson is quite intriguing — at least to me. He’s a hell of a ballplayer — a good eye, very good bat, slick glove and very good instincts — however, he’s had quite a struggle staying healthy. I remember Johnson with the Yankees, Expos/Nationals and when healthy, he can help out a ballclub.
At this point, I don’t see Johnson as an everyday guy as he is just so brittle.
I do wish him well. If there’s a spot for Johnson in the organization, maybe he can prove himself again in the minors before being given a spot on the big league club.
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In other news, the Orioles are now banned from scouting players in South Korea after the Kim-Seong Min signing — nice; also, Yoenis Cespedes visited the Florida Marlins yesterday and toured their new stadium.
I know the Orioles and other teams are after Cespedes; however, I do think he ends up in Florida – or Miami, as I should say. It would be a risky signing for any team to offer what he is looking for — at least $40 million (in not north of that) on a mult-year contract.
I do think the Marlins are a good fit for Cespedes in terms of the needs of their team, potential fan base and buzz. As I see it, I don’t see him on the Baltimore Orioles, honestly.
