The Orioles and closer Jim Johnson have avoided arbitration with a one-year deal, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). The Moye Sports Associates client will will make $6.5MM in 2013 with $50K more available in performance bonuses based on games finished, Connolly tweets.
The deal is right around the midpoint as Johnson filed for $7.1MM in arbitration while the Orioles countered with $5.7MM. The new deal marks a significant raise for Johnson, who earned $2.625MM last season.
Johnson, 29, pitched to a 2.49 ERA with 5.4 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 in 71 games, earning him his first career All-Star selection. This was Johnson’s third year of arbitration eligibility thanks to his Super Two status. The right-hander is scheduled to exchange figures with the O’s once more after the 2013 season and hit the open market after the 2014 campaign.
As MLBTR’s Transactions Tracker shows, Darren O’Day and Jason Hammel are Baltimore’s only remaining arbitration eligible players.
