The Rays signed first baseman Dan Johnson to a one-year, Major League deal worth $500K, writes Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. The Rays sold Johnson's rights to the Yokohama BayStars about a year ago, and the 30-year-old hit .215/.330/.462 in 382 plate appearances in Japan in 2009. He's got a career line of .248/.343/.420. Most his big league time came with the A's from 2005-07.
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if dan johnson gets a major league deal for that performance, colby lewis should come away with a cc sabathia deal…
What makes him so appealing? He hit .215 in Japan, he’s an ok backup first baseman, the Rays have Wily Aybar as a backup already. I’m very confused by this…
Yeah, I could understand signing him to a minor league deal, but not major league. This doesn’t make very much sense.
Maybe they will catch lighting in a bottle. If there is one team that can have a small signing turn into a steal its the Rays.
Deadweight Johnson!
you guys remember he was the guy who came up from durham and hit a pinch hit game winning homer for the rays during their run to the world series in 08
All this says is that the Rays need a 1B/DH at AAA.
But its a ML deal
They can still run him through waivers (I assume he’s out of options) and send him to AAA with a major league deal.
I currently see the roster looking like this (assuming they carry 14 hitters and 11 pitchers, which is might be unlikely already)C – ShoopachC – Navarro1B – Pena2B – ZorbristSS – Bartlett3B – LongoriaIF – AybarIF – Brignac (or possibly Rodriguez)LF – CrawfordCF – UptonRF – JoyceOF – Perez (or Jennings)OF – KaplerDH – BurrellWho is removed to add Johnson?Does it mean both Brignac and Rodriguez are in AAA while Aybar becomes the only player able to cover the middle infield? Seems unlikelyCant be Perez (or Jennings), as they wouldnt have a back-up CF. And doubtful they would be able to move Burrell. So does this mean Joyce or Kapler are a gonner? (or possibly both if they only carry 13 positional players and 12 pitchers)
I suppose it could mean they’re hoping Johnson catches fire in Spring Training and they can eat salary and dump Burrell on someone.
I think Maddon is comfortable with Kapler in Center. He’s a minority in that belief though.
A ML contract only means he gets paid if he makes the team out of ST. If cut the Rays can either resign him to a minor league deal or he gets his money and is released.
Still that is a spot on the 25-man. Every spot is important.
The spot is on the 40-man for now, 25-man rosters don’t need to be finalized until Opening Day.
Thanks, forgot that. Also 40 can still be important though.
I really don’t understand this move either… Major League deal? Who was thier competition that if they offered a minor league deal he would say no and sign elsewhere? Usually guys go to Japan and have better lines, this guy went to Japan and got worse…
i dont understand why he came back to play in the U.S. Dude obviously has peaked and he was getting paid 1.1 oku in japan. that is 1.199 millions U.S. dollars a year. i’m not saying $500,000 isnt alot of money, it is, but it aint nowhere near $1.2 million
The Rays are hardly out of the running for the AL East this year.