The Detroit Tigers have agreed to sign right-handed relief pitcher Jim Johnson to a minor league deal, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported on Tuesday. Johnson was recently released by the Oakland Athletics, following a tough stint that saw him go from closer to a pitcher that made only six appearances in the month of July. The A's had signed Johnson before the season to a one-year, $10 million deal for his third and final arbitration season. He had accumulated his first five seasons of service time with the Baltimore Orioles, who dealt Johnson to Oakland in December. The Orioles were interested in re-signing Johnson following his release, according to various Baltimore Orioles, including Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com, who did a particularly good job covering the Johnson story. It was Kubatko who reported yesterday that Johnson had signed, but to a team that was not the Baltimore Orioles. For two straight seasons with Baltimore, Johnson was arguably the best closer in the American League. He recorded the AL lead in saves in both 2012 and 2013, saving 51 and 50 in those seasons, respectively. During that stretch, Johnson pitched in 145 games, totaling 139 innings pitched, as he posted a 2.72 ERA and a 3.35 FIP. His 97 to 33 strikeout-to-walk rate from 2012 to 2013 was really good. It was as if Johnson was a completely different pitcher this year. In 40 1/3 innings pitched over a 38 game span, Johnson pitched to an ugly 7.14 ERA to go along with a 5.30 FIP. His strikeout-to-walk ratio was terrible; he recorded only 28 punch-outs to 23 base on balls. Johnson's 53 ERA+ is the worst mark of his career (min. 10 innings pitched). He recorded only two saves in three opportunities in Oakland. The Tigers may have a spot for the right-hander, as they have been really weak out of the bullpen this season. Detroit's relief corps have posted the third-highest ERA in the majors to go along with the sixth-highest FIP. The team acquired Joakim Soria from the Texas Rangers in July to help cater this need, but stocking up on relief pitching is never a bad idea. Taking a chance on Jim Johnson fits right in that category. It would not surprise me if Johnson does come and pitch with Detroit this season.
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The Chicago Cubs are calling up top second base and shortstop prospect Javier Baez to the major leagues tomorrow in Colorado, reports said on Monday. Baez becomes the second Cubs top prospect, after fellow infielder Arismendy Alcantara, to be promoted to the major leagues this year. On the season, Baez hopped from Single-A Advanced Daytona to Double-A Tennessee to the final stop before the big leagues in Triple-A Iowa. In 577 plate appearances with all three teams, Baez posted a great .282/.341/.578 triple-slash line with 37 home runs and 111 runs batted in. Baez, who had played shortstop all throughout his professional career, appeared at second base with Iowa 16 times. He expects to appear at both the shortstop and second base positions during the Cubs' final 51 games this year. As ranked by MLB.com midway through this season, Baez was ranked as the fifth-best prospect in all of the minor leagues, and the second-best Cubs prospect, behind 2013 First Round pick Kris Bryant. He was expected to arrive in Chicago this season, so the question became when, rather than will. The 21-year-old Baez has excellent bat speed, which generates his huge power. MLB.com ranks Baez's power 70 on an 80 scale. His plate discipline needs work, as he generated a 29 percent strikeout rate to only an eight percent walk rate in his 434 plate appearances with Triple-A. However, Baez is a good bad-ball hitter, so his bad plate discipline may not hurt him that much. But if he wants to hit for a high average, which many expect he is capable of, he needs to work on striking out less and walking more. Cubs fans have to be excited for the arrival of their 2011 First Round selection, as they know that they are getting closer to the team's first postseason birth since the 2008 season. Javier Baez coming to the big leagues in Colorado is just the beginning of the Chicago Cubs' predicted resurgence. This is going to be an exciting final 51 games for Cubs fans across the country. |
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