ESPN: Marlins and Johnson at Impasse on Contract Extension

by Michael Baron on November 20th, 2009 at 9:49 pm

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…

• Search

  Search for:

• MetsBlog Fan Confidence Rating

  

• Archives

  Select Month February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003