Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that the Orioles are in trade talks with the Dodgers for a deal that would send closer Jim Johnson to LA. Rosenthal says the Birds are “trying hard” to move JJ, who is projected to earn more than $10 million in arbitration this season.
Johnson’s value on the trade market is high, despite his large salary. He has totaled 101 saves over the past two seasons including an American League leading 50 in 2013. Last season, Johnson posted a 2.94 ERA, 3.11 K/BB and 1.280 WHIP, his highest since 2010. He was an All-Star in 2012 and received Cy Young votes for his role in the O’s playoff run.
Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors points out that the Orioles have been linked to a few big name free agents this offseason, but would have to shed some payroll to make them happen. Initially, we were hearing rumblings about the O’s trading Matt Wieters. Dealing Johnson makes much more sense as his value is higher and the Birds have a few internal options to replace him.
Should he be dealt to LA, Johnson would likely be pushed to a setup role behind Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen.
Are you hearing any possible names from LA?
Better get good players for him. Not another eveland. A guy like Johnson should at least two mlb ready prospects.
You know I have no problem trading Johnson as long as the Orioles don’t get any minor leaguers.
However, again, like I’ve said before, this team needs 1 or 2 players to get them to the playoffs or possible World Series yet they are in player dumping mode.
And why are they in player dumping mode? Because the Orioles are cheap and do not want to pay money for players. Just like they tried to trade Hardy 2 weeks ago because he’s a free agent at the end of the year and they don’t want to pay him. And it’s the same reason they are looking to trade Wieters.
You clowns who keep giving this team money need to stop. They aren’t worried about putting a good team on the field. They are worried about saving money!
Just watch, Johnson will be traded for some cheap, end of the bench player or a couple “Double AA” players…
I’m an Oriole fan and will not give another dime until they are serious about this team and spending money for quality players.
I would call you an idiot, but I don’t condone name calling. The orioles weren’t really close to trading Hardy or Wieters. They were putting their names out there to see what they could possibly get in return, that doesn’t mean they are trying get rid of them or even dump their contracts. As for Jim Johnson, do you seriously want this guy closing again? Let me take you back to the last season or two….
He had an outstanding 2012 season. Outstanding! That is, until the playoffs…
Johnson comes in the ninth inning of game one against the Yankees, this is what closers live for (supposedly). How many runs did he give up? Was it four, or five? I can’t remember exactly, either way, the game was beyond repair at that point. He destroyed any chance the Os had of winning that game. Os come back with a big win in game 2 with a gutsy performance from Tawian’s own Wei-Yin Chen (no MLB experience prior to that season, wins his first ever playoff game) Now…
Game 3: Machado and Flaherty (no names at The time) homer. Os are up one going into the ninth. Redemption is on Johnson’s mind, right? It has to be. Raul Ibanez steps up, one of the best dead-red fastball hitters of all time. Fastball right down the middle and into the seats, tie game. Os lose game three. He almost even blew it in game 4 as well. The Yankees hit two or three line drives that happened to be hit right at someone.
Do I really need to Keep going? Do I even have to bother mentioning last season to you? Nine blown saves! Almost ten losses! What do those numbers tell you? They tell you that not only should he not have been closing, but he shouldn’t even have put into ballgames llate when the game was even remotely close. Talk about a morale killer? You know how many games the orioles lost because of Jim Johnson? The orioles
Team is so admirable and came back so many times only to lose because of a single player that can’t even get three outs. They also lost in round one o the playoffs because of a single player. How many more times do you want him to blow it for the entire team? You can even make arguments that the reason Chris Davis didn’t win the MVP this season was because of Johnson coughing up the playoff race for Baltimore. Os make the playoffs Davis probably wins MVP.
You do realize that the reason the Os are so cautious too is because of guys like Jim Johnson? I wouldn’t want to pay ten million dollars do a player with the resume that I just gave you. You also realize that if the Os want to sign a big name player that they have to unload salary? if the Os unload Johnson they could play closer by committee and slot in Hunter (destroys righties) Matusz (lights against against lefties, ask 2013’s Worldseries MvP) and O’Day (one of the most clutch and underrated relievers in all of baseball over the last couple of years and the reliever Showalter has the most faith in). They could then use that ten million and look at signing Beltran or another borderline star.
I mean, think. Put two and fish together. Both teams need to clear salary, Baltimore has several players who do better than Johnson did last season. They would all cost significantly less. The only reason Baltimore resigned Johnson was to avoid losing him completely and at least get something in return for him. It’s really not difficult to understand. They need to shed salary now and in the future? Do you want to see Chris Davis walk in two wars because of how the a orioles invested in a pedestrian “closer? Or how about Manny Machado?.. Hardy? Wieters (the Orioles’ other Showalter)? And what about Tillman? Bundy, Gausman?.. IT’s one thing to be cheap or conservative, the a orioles are just being smart though.. Jim Johnson is the one player they have right now who is expendable and would bring back some talent. Why would you keep him? It wouldn’t make any sense… You would be hurting yourself now and in the future
I went on a bit of a rant there. Just, if you see the Os trading Jim Johnson as only a “way of saving money” then you are delusional. It’s called investing. Right now the a orioles are two or three years away from having to make some gigantic decisions. Wieters will be a free agent, Davis will be a free agent, Machado, Tillman, Hardy, all of those guys can possibly be gone. That is a lot of players…
How do you expect
Them to be able to pay all o those players (some of whom have Scott Boras as their agent) if they cough up ten million plus dollars to a mediocre closer? You make it seem as if they don’t offer contracts or aren’t willing to commit to players, which is completely ignorant of you. They signed Markakis to a big contract several years ago, they signed Adam Jones to a big contract a year and a half ago. You know why? It’s because those players have proven they are worth that kind of money and are worth holding on to, Johnson has not. You’re also delusional if you don’t think the Os want to keep Hardy and Wieters. It’s about leverage. Shortstops are scare in the free agency market, you would foolish to not see what you could at least get in return, same with Wieters.
I’m sorry. I don’t mean to direct this all at you. You have your opinion, which is fine. I’m not trying to attack you, but you couldn’t be more wrong with everything you are saying. I had to call you out on it.
I’m a big fan of JJ, but he’s not worth $11M.
2488, his numbers were down last year, but he’s still marketable. You, yourself, have pointed out the Orioles overvalue their players. In this case, they are selling high. If your name is not Mariano Rivera, your shelf life as a closer is not long. The fact that they got two years out of him ought to be reason enough to move him.
I do agree that this shouldn’t be a salary dump, but moving a guy to make your team better.
I would take Billingsley or Ethier if they eat some of the cash.
Rick- don’t get my hopes up!
MGW, I have no problem dealing Johnson, just not for more minor leaguers that will help the team 3-4 years from now if at all. But you called it as well, it’s a salary dump.
Tigers just traded Doug Fister. He’s 30 years old with 44-50 record and .353 era. You don’t think the Orioles could have used him? Tigers got Steve Lombardozzi and a Double AA player. Orioles could have traded Schoop for Fister.
Face it, Orioles aren’t interested in adding major league talent to the roster. Maybe minor league players or players that were designated for assignment (because they are cheap) but not players that can help this team.
It’s sad because this is a talented team and now is the time to make a run for the trophy.
No, but I’ll call you an idiot, assclown. You need a freaking life. You wrote all that dumbass shit and said nothing…
I’m not goina give you the jolly of answering all your babble. Don’t call me out Dingo cause I’m going to throw out your second sentence to show these readers you don’t know shit.
You said in your second sentence “The orioles weren’t really close to trading Hardy or Wieters”
Just so readers don’t have to read your babble, I’ll blow holes in that second sentence of yours… Hardy WAS OFFERED to the Cardinals for Shelby Miller but the CARDINALS SAID NO!…
Read these links assclown for the story of the Cardinals turning down the Orioles for Hardy….
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/24227504/cardinals-tell-orioles-they-wouldnt-trade-shelby-miller-for-jj-hardy
http://www.camdenchat.com/2013/11/13/5099770/orioles-offseason-cardinals-turn-down-trade-offer-of-j-j-hardy-for
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/jj_hardy/
Call that one out Ryan… You are the one who is wrong, not me. Take the blinders off and stop drinking the orange Kool Aid.
Don’t try to write a bunch of garbage while saying nothing just to go against what I wrote because on that one little sentence I showed the readers you are clueless on what you write.
I’m with you Ravens2488. I read Ryne’s thesis and it said blah, blah, blah. Your rip on his one sentence just tore his shit to pieces. Run Dingo Run!
I would trade Hardy for Shelby Miller everyday and three times on Friday.
Hardy’s value will never be higher and the Orioles biggest priority is starting pitching. He is 31 years old and probably will never achieve the season he had this past year, again. Not many 31 going on 32 year olds keep getting better, unless drugs are involved.
The Orioles always over value their own players, so I find it refreshing to see that they are willing to dangle a player like Hardy at the peak of his value.