Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com says the Marlins and RHP Josh Johnson have been unable to reach an agreement on a long-term contract extension.
Crasnick quotes Johnson’s agent, Matt Sosnick, as saying, “There’s no chance of doing a long-term deal with the Marlins…We made it clear that it was going to be this year or it wasn’t going to happen. It was now or never. And the Marlins agreed.”
Johnson is eligible for arbitration each of the next two seasons, after which he can become a free agent following 2011.
…johnson is quickly becoming one of the premier pitchers in baseball, and at his age i don’t know why Florida wouldn’t go beyond three years in a deal, because they would likely lose him anyway to free agency when he is 28 and just entering the prime of his career… there isn’t any indication the Marlins are going to make him available right now, but the longer they can’t come together on an agreement, the more likely he will be dealt sooner rather than later, especially with his value so high, which would command greater value in return…
…i think johnson is great… what’s not to like… he is young, a hard thrower, he can shut down big time offenses and he was dominant against the Mets in 2009…
…if the Mets are interested in dealing prospects for pitching as they seem to be with Roy Halladay, i feel they should at least see if this kid is available, although i find it hard to believe that these two teams would make a trade given their recent history on the field…
Added to by Matthew Cerrone:
…i think he’s exactly the type of pitcher they’re trying to acquire… the thing is, i bet the Marlins do not look to trade him until at least the middle of next season, depending on where they are in the standings… there is a good chance they contend for the division next year, if not more… it’s not their style to cut bait just yet… sadly, we all know how they operate, and i think they’re more likely to make 2010 the year to push for a ring, then look to trade him following the season, win or lose…
{ 10 comments }
Why in the world wouldn’t you want to lock this kid up beyond 3 years????? Unless there is a medical issue, the Marlins are crazy!
Jeffrey Loria is like Rachel Phelps, except that the Marlins are already in Miami.
Because the Marlins are cheap! How many times have you seen them tore down a team after a championship? They make more money by keeping salary low and raking in money from revenue sharing.
MINAYA ARE YOU WATCHING?
If this kid is available than the Mets better see what it takes to get him. I would give up more for him than I would for Halladay. Nothing against Doc but he is a lot older than Johnson. Johnson is one of the best pitchers in the NL and becoming one of the best in the game.
I really hope he is available and Omar makes this happen!!
I’d be worried about Johnson’s long term health risks, but the same can be said with Halladay. I’d take either on my team any day of the week.
I agree with you mets9268; while we shouldn’t trade the farm for either, Johnson is about to enter the best part of his career and should be good longer than Halladay and so worthy of a big contract.
As for health, it seems that almost nobody is immune to some arm problem at some point in there career. Everyone is a risk.
If the Marlins aren’t going to lock him up long term we def. have to check in on his availability and on the plus side we won’t have to face him if he’s on our side?
Just so we know who we’re talking about, here’s Josh Johnson’s complete minor league and ML numbers, courtesy of The Baseball Cube:
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/J/Josh-Johnson-1.shtml
Apart from his surgery in 2007, there doesn’t appear to be any major gaps in his development. At age 25, he certainly has emerged as one of baseball’s top young pitchers. He’s an imposing figure who pounds the lower part of the strike zone. He’s everything we had hoped Pelfrey would be.
BTW, while we’re discussing pitching, I cannot figure out how Dan Warthen has kept his job as Mets pitching coach. When your pitching staff sets a club record for bases on balls in a season, its definitely time for the pitching coach to take a walk.
And I don’t want to hear anything about injuries to the staff, a pitching coach should have the capability of instilling in pitchers under his watch the religion of pounding the strike zone. So Dan Warthen can take his crusty cheeks and BOCES eyewear to some other destination.
He’s had two good seasons, four years apart. I think he’s good, i think he’s worth getting. Just not sure how he’s a FA after 2011
Comments on this entry are closed.