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Who Wants Reed Johnson?
3:40pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Cubs are "showing the heaviest interest" in Johnson. Johnson does make sense for the Cubs, playing center when the team faces a lefty. It might hold Felix Pie back slightly, but it's a win-now move.
Rosenthal says the Red Sox, Rays, and Rangers are the other teams in on Johnson. It's definitely surprising to see the Sox and Rangers in the mix as neither club is light on outfielders.
9:40am: If 31 year-old outfielder Reed Johnson clears release waivers, he's going to be a hot commodity. Already, the expected three teams have been named as possibilities in their respective newspapers.
- On Sunday, Joel Sherman characterized the Mets' interest as "mild at best." Bart Hubbuch says the Mets are interested but quotes Omar Minaya as saying the Mets will go with internal options.
- Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald says the Cubs have interest in Johnson, noting that Jim Hendry is likely to make an acquisition this week. Jeff DaVanon is another (less likely) option. Gordon Wittenmyer says the Cubs would have interest in Johnson if he clears release waivers.
- Joe Smith connects the Rays to Johnson and DaVanon, though only in speculation.
- I asked ESPN's Keith Law how Johnson handled center field. He said: "I haven't seen him since the injury, but he could play it every day when I was with Toronto, and he has a plus arm."
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I've read differing opinions on Reed's ability to play CF. I understand he's a good corner outfielder defensively. If he can play a decent CF than he's a good acquisition as a caddy for Pie against tough lefties. If he can't play at least average CF, then he could be a liability considering the Cubs largely employ flyball pitchers in their rotation.
Posted by: crunchy1 | March 24, 2008 at 09:04 AM
Reed can play Average CF, however I would hate to see Johnson not at least get a platoon situation.
Match him with someone who does well vs right handers and you have a 900+ OPS position.
Posted by: Dev0 | March 24, 2008 at 09:51 AM
Jeff DaVanon would be a solid pick-up for either of those teams. In his seasons in Arizona, he proved to be an effective guy off the bench and spot starter. Probably an't really pencil him in as an everyday starter however.
Posted by: dbacksbuzz | March 24, 2008 at 09:57 AM
Who would you rather have as a platoon partner, at the very least, with Felix Pie?
Reed Johnson or Jeff DeVanon
Both are experienced veterans that could play all three outfield spots. DeVanon has World Series experience. That right there would give him the nod in my book. Though, DeVavon has had more injuries in his career. So, maybe it's a make offers to both, if only one accepts, take him deal. Though, I would sign them both, and stash one at Iowa, because you know Lou Piniella isn't going to be patient with Pie.
Posted by: jlb1980 | March 24, 2008 at 10:12 AM
I like Johnson's bat. I just noticed that Tim posted that Keith Law said Johnson played a decent CF before his injury. If that's still the case, then I think he'd be a nice platoon partner for Pie. I don't expect teams to put in a lot of marginal lefty starters against the Cubs right-handed dominant lineup, so Johnson will be there to face some of the tougher lefties in the league and to give the rookie a break against some right-handers as well. Pie's an energy guy and, like Theriot, I can see him burning himself out by the end of the year if he isn't properly rested.
Posted by: crunchy1 | March 24, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Mets should be all over Johnson, leaving the Cubbies with DaVanon.
Posted by: maximumpotential | March 24, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Unless, he's just blowing smoke, then Minaya says he's going with "internal options". That sounds like Endy Chavez or "Cubbie" cast off Angel Pagan.
Posted by: crunchy1 | March 24, 2008 at 11:08 AM
I wish the Cubs would leave Pie alone. He will be alright. Play him for 150 games this season. When he rests, Fukudome can relieve him, and Murton or Derosa can play right.
Posted by: Van | March 24, 2008 at 11:50 AM
I do, I do!
Posted by: jrfukudome | March 24, 2008 at 11:53 AM
JR, you've been on this Reed Johnson thing from the beginning! Now it looks like Piniella is interested as well. I think it's a nice fit if he can play a decent CF
Posted by: crunchy1 | March 24, 2008 at 11:59 AM
I can't really think of any team other than the 3 named that would have interest in Johnson. I think it would only take about 3 million and a minor league deal. That's what Corey Patterson got and he plays great defense and will get his team a lot of steals. That is the maximum for Johnson. The Cubs have been after a player like him for the whole offseason and I think they will get him. Omar Miniya said he would go with internal options and the Rays aren't even officially interested. The Cubs will probably get one of Johnson or DaVanon.
Posted by: Joe | March 24, 2008 at 12:08 PM
This is a tad off the subject but I find it curious that Brandon Inge is starting in CF for the second straight day. I wonder if the Cubs have had scouts out to see him.
Posted by: crunchy1 | March 24, 2008 at 12:18 PM
I would like Reed before the injury. Ofcourse, he would not have been released. Back surgery is tricky though. The Cubs start a lot of home games and away games in the cold. So you are basically hopeing he comes around later in the season. I have the same feeling about Crisp. His groin injuries do not excite me. I like a guy like Inge better. He plays both IF/OF for a back up and seems like he can fill in a few games for Pie when needed.
Posted by: studio179 | March 24, 2008 at 01:11 PM
Even though he is left handed, I would still take Kenny Lofton over Davanon or Johnson any day of the week.
I am not conviced that we "must" have a right handed hitting center fielder if we are keeping Murton. If we get Roberts, and DeRosa moves to the bench, I'm certainly not worried.
I still see no reason that Fukudome or Soriano could not back up, key word, back up Pie.
Posted by: Jon | March 24, 2008 at 01:12 PM
The thing is Inge also hit .333 against lefties last year and .282 over the past three years. Lofton is at .220 and .246 in the same time frames. The Cubs had enough issues with lefties last year. They don't need to add to them. And Lofton leaves the Cubs with their overall depth issues unresolved, whereas Inge can fill in at multiple positions (i.e. 3b for Ramirez annual trip to the DL). Lofton's a nice player, but he's not a good fit for the Cubs anymore, in my opinion. I think Inge, Reed Johnson (.325 against lefties and .305 over the past three years) and DaVanon (.309 batting average over past three years vs. lefties) are far better fits than Lofton for the Cubs.
Posted by: crunchy1 | March 24, 2008 at 01:28 PM
As far as CF goes today, Piniella officially named Pie the CF today, Wood as the closer and Dempster as the #3 guy, Marquis as the #5 guy and Lieber in long relief. Hopefully this puts the Coco Crisp rumors to rest. The next step is getting a backup for Pie.
Posted by: crunchy1 | March 24, 2008 at 01:34 PM
on a related topic, why the hell aren't the Blue Jays giving the job to Lind?
Posted by: jakec | March 24, 2008 at 05:13 PM
Can someone elaborate as to the nature and extent of Johnson's injury?
Posted by: Devlsh | March 24, 2008 at 05:25 PM
I think that Johnson would be a very solid addition for the Cubs. He can man center pretty well and could back up all the other positions pretty well too. Between him and Murton we would be set in the outfield, and adding Johnson wouldn't cost anything at all outside of money. The Cubs have a lot of money, they can afford it.
And I second the Adam Lind comment, he should be given a chance to start before Matt Stairs and Shannon Stewart. But none of this matters because next year Travis Snider will take over in left because he's a beast.
Posted by: scribbletone | March 24, 2008 at 05:50 PM
"on a related topic, why the hell aren't the Blue Jays giving the job to Lind?"
The Jays fancy themselves contenders, and Lind struggled last year at the plate when given the opportunity to play every day. Stairs can hit RHP just as well and provide the same thing in the LF platoon that Lind would so it's best to keep his service clock grounded and give him his first full season at AAA.
"Can someone elaborate as to the nature and extent of Johnson's injury?"
He had surgery for a herniated disc in his lower back. Maybe his problems stemmed from the fact he drove to spring training last year in his truck from Texas, just my theory anyways. He is fine now.
The bottom line for Cubs fans is that Reed rips apart LHP and is a PERFECT platoon partner. He is a hard nosed guy who always gives his best. He can play all 3 OF positions, and WELL. His defense and character will be missed, at least by this Jay fan.
Posted by: 92-93 | March 24, 2008 at 05:51 PM
"But none of this matters because next year Travis Snider will take over in left because he's a beast."
I suspect penciling him in as the starting 1B in 2010 after Overbay's contract runs out is a better guess. I think the Reed release was a clear signal the team intends to have Lind in LF in 2009.
Posted by: 92-93 | March 24, 2008 at 05:54 PM
Reed to the Cubs...it makes way too much sense. He is better than Payton pretty much every day of the week, and costs you nothing. I think he makes less money too....
Get it done Hendry. It will be a nice cap to a very good offseason, even though it was a complete rollercoaster.
Posted by: Aduncaroo | March 24, 2008 at 05:56 PM
I've heard a lot of people project that Snider may be the minor league player of the year. If thats the case then I would be shocked if they didnt start Snider in 2009. Unless Lind does end performing well this year, and if he isnt starting then he wont. So either Lind starts and plays well and takes over in left for '08, '09, etc. or he struggles and Snider is given the job in '09.
Posted by: scribbletone | March 24, 2008 at 06:02 PM
92-93, I like that description of Reed, it looks like he'd fit in nicely with Piniella and with what the Cubs need.
Posted by: crunchy1 | March 24, 2008 at 07:03 PM
Crunchy, I second that. The Cubs should get Johnson. He's probably a better player than Marlon Byrd, and wouldn't cost us anything in terms of talent.
And I'm shocked that the Mets aren't interested in Johnson. Not only as a replacement for the inevitable Moises Alou injury, but also because he seems like a perfect platoon partner with Ryan Church. Church mashes righties and Johnson mashes lefties, and both play a good right field. Therefore, combined you'd end up with an above average hitter (something like a 860 OPS) and high quality defense, and received it at a pretty low cost.
Posted by: scribbletone | March 24, 2008 at 09:50 PM