Just before the tender deadline, the Baltimore Orioles and Oakland Athletics were able to pull off a trade that would send a player who was arbitration eligible to Oakland. That player was Jim Johnson, the former Orioles closing pitcher. In return the Oakland Athletics sent second baseman Jemile Weeks to Baltimore. They will also be sending a player to be named later.
The Orioles, after much time, were finally able to open up some salary by trading Johnson. He was worth $10 million over arbitration, and the Orioles did not want to pay that. They didn't want to let him go without a return either. They got all their wishes by acquiring second baseman Jemile Weeks for Johnson. Weeks spent most of the time in 2013 with AAA Sacramento, hitting .271/.376/.369 with 4 home runs and 40 RBI. In parts of three years with the Athletics, Weeks has hit .258/.319/.357 in 223 games. The Orioles will also be receiving a player to be named later.
For the Athletics, they'll be getting a closer who has led the American League in saves over the past two years. Johnson saved 101 games (51 in 2012, 50 in 2013). In 2013, Johnson went 3-8 with a 2.94 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Over his career, Johnson has saved 81% of his save opportunities. He will definitely bolster the Athletics bullpen with his dominant arm.
The Oakland Athletics and Baltimore Orioles each benefitted from this trade, as the Orioles have a need in a second baseman and the Athletics bolstered their bullpen. I think it was a fair deal, but it depends on who the Orioles get for a player to be named later before we can start making decisions.
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