4:38pm: The Braves sent about $450K to the Mets in the trade as well, tweets the New York Post’s Ken Davidoff. That will help offset the remaining $1.268MM on Johnson’s 2016 contract. The Braves, then, are saving about $818K in the trade.
10:56am: The Mets have officially struck a deal to acquire utilityman Kelly Johnson from the Braves, as Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com first reported on Twitter. Minor league righty Akeel Morris heading back in return.
New York and Atlanta are division rivals, but that didn’t stop them from linking up last summer on a deal that brought Johnson and fellow veteran Juan Uribe to the Mets. Johnson returned to Atlanta after playing a limited but important role for the eventual National League champs, only to be sent north once again.
The contending Mets have seen some holes open up this year due to injuries. In particular, first baseman Lucas Duda, third baseman David Wright, and catcher Travis d’Arnaud are in various stages of lengthy absences, while outfielder Juan Lagares is limited by a thumb injury.
Johnson, 34, figures to provide a stopgap at any number of positions. Over 11 years with eight organizations, he’s lined up at second base, all four corner infield and outfield spots, and even shortstop (albeit only for one game). The left-handed-hitting Johnson looks like a particularly good fit at third base, where he could share time with Wilmer Flores, though it’s fair to note that Johnson has never carried much of a platoon split.
At his best, Johnson is a reasonably solid defender and an average or better hitter with some pop. The question is how much is left in the bat. Over 132 plate appearances this year, he’s slashed a meager .215/.273/.289 with a single home run. That’s a good ways off of his lifetime .250/.330/.420 slash and double-digit annual long ball output.
In Morris, the Braves are getting a 23-year-old reliever who has just a single MLB appearance under his belt. Heading into 2016, he had posted three straight seasons of sparkling results while steadily climbing the ladder. Over his first 25 1/3 innings this year, all coming at the Double-A level, Morris has surrendered 13 earned runs and issued 16 free passes — though he’s also allowed only 19 hits while racking up 36 strikeouts.
Jon Morosi of FOX Sports first reported that a trade between the teams was close (Twitter link).
Kelly Johnson reunion!!!
It is KJ for a AA pitcher.
Saw that coming, but think it could be another piece with or instead of KJ.
Yep, Kelly Johnson to Mets, from Adam Rubin.
Why Johnson and not Aaron Hill, who can actually still hit?
Because Johnson is cheaper (salary-wise and cost-to-acquire) than Hill, Johnson is more versatile than Hill (Johnson has played every position but CF and C). And above that, Johnson played for the Mets last year so he knows the staff, front office, most of the players, and how the team operates.
You say cheaper to acquire but they just over payed. Dude is going to be a big leaguer. Usually in a deal like this you just give up minor league filler.
I agree. I think they gave up a pitcher that was better than the two they sent last year for both Johnson and Uribe. I doubt Morris will ever be a “stud” in the majors, but he actually has some potential to stick. He was rushed to the majors last year from Class A-advanced.
Definitely seems like an overpay for a guy hitting .215/.273/.289. Johnson should have come way cheaper than Hill would, but can’t believe it would have taken too much more than a young upside arm like Morris to get him instead. Hill is hitting .269/.349/.419 though he won’t give you the option of corner OF like Johnson can.
#theboysareback
This the exact reason why teams who don’t believe they will contend sign these types of players. There are always injuries, and even if the return is small it is still receiving something for nothing.
Looking forward to hearing some Money For Nothing by Dire Straits and knowing Kelly Johnson is pinch hitting.
Am I the only one that doesn’t like this trade?
I can’t wait until the Braves sign Kelly Johnson again in the off-season only to trade him again for another Mets Minot league pitcher
Building up our minor league arms one Mets trade at a time.
Win-win. The Braves continue to acquire MiLB pitchers from the Mets, and the amount the Mets save in jerseys for acquiring the same player each year is astonishing.
Hahaha Kelly Johnson single-handedly slowly stealing the mets farm system
How come the Braves got a better prospect this time… I hope KJ comes back next year though
Meh. Morris is a bit of an overpay, but it is all theoretical at this point. I agree with the poster that commented how it should have been MiLB filler….and not a guy who has a shot at an MLB spot in the next year or two (even if as a backend BP guy).
Morris has issues w. Walking the Park, but if he can get a bit more control…he’d be serviceable.
“he’s lined up at second, third, both corner infield and corner outfield spots”
Little redundant.
Yes, I was typing quickly. I’ll fix it.
MLBTradeRumors has been slacking off of late.
Considering the fact you forgot a word, so are you.
Honestly, typo here and there, I really don’t care… I’m here for the breaking news not MLA formatted essay…
This makes sense. Morris is on the 40 man roster and the Mets needed to clear a spot for an extra body for the Major League club. In the end, someone had to go and Morris makes as much sense as anyone. It’ll be another tough decision when Wheeler has to be added back on next month.
braves trade kelly johnson for adam rubin.
It is a complete fallacy that teams are less likely to trade within the division. That argument gets brought every time there is an intradivision trade. Which is about 1 out of every 6 trades in reality. There are some teams that don’t trade often, but not entire divisions.
Teams do tend to try to keep trades with star players or top prospects out of the division, but an aging rental player for a potential bullpen arm, no reason not to.
Not sure if you’re suggesting it, but I’m not suggesting it is some huge barrier. Probably plays a role with respect to some players, but I agree it isn’t generally a major issue. Heck, the Nats and Mets linked up before last season.
Yep, one marginal trade makes it a fallacy. That’s as scientific as it gets.
Which fallacy is it you are referring to? Its not a strawman or a red-hairing. Is it a formal or an informal fallacy?
Why did you repost an article from last summer?
Ha!
More like Johnson i s filler for the Mets…..again. Morris is a 23 year old who has 400 KO’s in 300 IP..with a 95 mph fastball and plus change-up who misses bats. Would have been a useful bullpen arm in a year.
Let it go gms aren’t gonna take your advice
First Kelly Johnson did the tour of the AL East: he played with all 5 teams in that division, consecutively. Now, he’s on a New York-Atlanta shuttle.
He’s had a career!
Never will happen in a million years, dream on cjh
You take off Teheran, Inciarte, Banuelos and the 9 mil, you might have yourself a trade.
I know his trade proposals are ridiculous, but you are kidding right?
I’m not 100% sure… Lol
Can’t imagine Kelly Johnson is going to excite any mets fans. I’d be rather pizzed. They have this pitching staff , a few hitters and low payroll. Go spend money and get some bats. Pitching staff won’t be together forever. If they dont, Theo and the cubbies are going to destroy them.
Dude stop.
Would think if it gets taken off the site and it is completely ridiculed every time, he would stop.
We all get it you like this trade a lot. Just stop posting.
Did you ever see a trade that big damn snd guys on here kill me for my proposals.
Ya I have and when something like this happen I be one laughing at you all I told you this past off season Braves would get big package from some one for miller and it happen just watch when some like this happens next
idk know about the trade – but i know the post is too long
in the future you should consider your spacing, think initials, and 86 the entire roster thing.
Dude, for one try some punctuation. The above comment would make a little more sense. Because what you wrote above, I do not recall the Walker trade where Ricky Williams was traded. And yes, just last year a double figure trade happened, it included the Braves. Not that I completely knock that trade like most will, I didn’t see a major loss co spidering where the Braves sit. But that 13 player trade also included a 3rd team. Regardless, that team worked out for no one, if nothing else the slight edge went to LA.
Oh and aside from the fact that neither of those two separate trades you mention truly worked out, they like the Miller trade were both considered stupid from the onset.
Look both up and look up history of baseball double figure trades you all need sports education
Look it up these are some of biggest trade ever
I’d take Bauer over Teheran and Zimmer over Inciarte RIGHT NOW. So no, that is a terrible trade for the Indians
Actually it’s a terrible trade for the Braves and a steal for the Indians.
Like said you all know your sport history
Teixeria trade to Braves http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/11/trades-of-the-decade-teixeira-to-the-braves.html
In each trade you mention, the receiving team of biggest name player thought they were one player away and got no further. Ditka screwed the Saints and Tex obviously did not get Atlanta any further.
That was painful to read.
I ran this by Antonetti and Coppy they say their advanced metrics wouldn’t allow this trade to work. It just doesn’t make sense…
Let’s Go Red Sox!!!!!