Well, it wasn’t the Dodgers, but the Orioles found a suitor for their closer before the midnight non-tender deadline. Jim Johnson has been traded to the Oakland Athletics for Jemile Weeks.
Johnson projected to make over $10 million in arbitration and the O’s were looking to shed payroll. In return Baltimore gets a 26 year old second baseman who hit .271/.376/.369 in Triple-A last season and is under team control through 2019.
Weeks appeared in just eight games in the big leagues in 2013, recording one hit in nine at-bats. After his breakout season in 2011 (.303/.340/.421), his offensive production declined in 2012 (.221/.305/.304).
Were you expecting more in return for the American League saves leader? With a price tag that hefty, you probably shouldn’t have. The fact is, the Orioles should have either signed Johnson to an extension after the 2012 season or traded him that winter. They didn’t do either and were forced to deal him this offseason.
It’s impossible to say whether this was a good or bad move by the Orioles as of right now. If they go out and use this freed up payroll to invest in a solid rotation arm like a Ubaldo Jimenez or Matt Garza, moving Johnson was a no brainer. If they invest that saved $10 million in a guy like Bartolo Colon, then this move looks awful.
As for Johnson, he was a fan favorite, but his productivity can be replaced for much less money. Grantland’s Jonah Keri points out that the Marlins non-tendered relief pitcher Ryan Webb, who posted very similar numbers to Johnson, rather than pay him $1.5 million in 2014.
The good news for Orioles fans is that we may have seen the best of Jim Johnson. His 1.280 WHIP ranked 43rd among qualified relief pitchers despite a 2.94 ERA. Johnson is a rare pitch to contract closer who allowed 9.2 hits per nine inning in 2013. By comparison, A’s closer and current free agent Grant Balfour, allowed 6.9 hits per nine innings and posted a 1.197 WHIP. A roomier home ballpark could help JJ’s numbers though.
The move makes sense for both Billy Beane and Dan Duquette as the A’s need a replacement for Balfour and the O’s need a second baseman. However both Johnson and Weeks come with many questions. As Jeff Todd of MLB Trade Rumors writes, Weeks will have to prove he’s a regular everyday big leaguer, while Johnson will have to live up to that hefty contract.
So the Orioles trade Major League talent for Minor League talent… And save money on the deal. Which of course was the reason they made the deal.
So we are supposed to be happy that the Orioles traded their Saves Leader for a 26 year old minor league 2nd baseman?
Typical Orioles move… Wait till they trade Hardy for 2 Double AA Minor Leaguers…
This team is a joke!
Yeah man you’re spot on! This is a typical orioles move… just like that one time they acquired Hardy for Jim Hoey, or when they traded Koji for Hunter and Davis… or that other time when they got Jones and Tillman in return for Bedard… Orioles always making dumb moves that never work out!
Does anyone here not know Weeks was a regular lineup guy for the A’s in the ’11 and ’12 seasons and while his battling avg wasn’t too stellar he hit RBI’s in clutch times in major games and can steal bases better then Coco Crisp and that’s saying quite a bit.Then only got shuffled down into the minors because the A’s made a piss poor deal for a then grumpy about the team he got sent to player by the name of Steven Drew who replaced their best SS in Cliff Pennington who then got forced to move over to Second base and then moving Weeks to minors to free room at that point crowded roster. Point is the kid is a good pickup for the O’s and with a small contract that he will garner it frees your O’s up to get other prospects as well.
I have no problem with the trading of Jim Johnson and his $10 million tag. But for this? If this is what key Orioles pieces are going for in the trade market, I fear for what we’ll get in return for Wieters.
Zach, c’mon man. we got fleeced. So you trade 101 saves and a $10 million salary for a guy that had 9 at bats last year? So what you are telling that if we do the same thing for Wieters, you would feel the same? This is the icing on the cake that Angelos is F’ing the fans! This is a middle finger to all the fans. we got more for Guthrie, more for Strop and Arrietta than we did for a top 5 closer in baseball! What about Shoop and Flaherty…oh my bad, Weeks fits right in, a no hit, some field 2nd baseman…just what we need to flounder again in 3rd or 4th place!
Correct as usual,,,,,,,,,it’s simply called a salary dump , just wait for more of the same , the O’s fans have only themselves to thank for this mess of a team , wait till they see what happens next as saving money is peter the greats favorite thing in lifr , just look at his trust fund the MASN money built up,,,,,,,,,,his family loves him and that is what it is all about…………………
Hey Sroka, The O’s don’t always make dumb moves but this one was dumb. Since when is the threat of a $11 million big enough to trade a top 3 MLB closer? They didn’t trade Roberts 5yr/$50 million deal; they didn’t trade Macakeass’ $66 million deal. My question is that we could have gotten major league talent or something even better if we traded him last year for the pennant race. answer that Sroka. What about when it’s time to pay Wieters, what if we don’t want to give him the 7yr/$100 million deal? What about that Sroka? Wake up and smell the coffee, ain’t no Starbucks in Dundalk Sroka? I know there is a Dunkin Donuts so go in there, get a large BLACK coffee and tell them 9inchnails sent you in. You will either get a free coffee and the contents of the cash register and safe or locked up….take your chances.
Is that offer valid at any Dunkin’ Donuts or just the one in Dundalk?
Hey 9inchnails, Firstly, I don’t enter Dundalk unless it’s absolutely necessary so that free coffee will have to wait. Secondly, I do think they will resign Wieters. Thirdly, I partially agree with you (to agree fully with you would be insanity!) that Duquette has been a little slow on the trigger when trading guys. I think this is not only true for Johnson but also for Arrietta and Avery. Fourthly, Johnson top 3 MLB closer? No. For one year in 2012 he was top three, but only for one year. Also, Roberts was too hurt to ever deal him; you couldn’t pay a team to take Roberts. I’m glad that all these baseball decisions seem so simple and obvious to you…
Friendly reminder that Chris Davis was in AAA in 2011 before he was traded to Baltimore. I see Jemile as a change of scenery/be given a chance guy like Davis. No way in heck Weeks becomes Davis, but Weeks isn’t that far removed from a pretty solid season in 2011. Orioles weren’t getting much for Johnson anyway.
Steve-O, Wieters isn’t an overpaid player in an overrated role like Johnson, so I think they could definitely get something of value for Wieters. Far harder to find a good catcher than a good closer. Good closers are a dime a dozen.
The other part of the puzzle for a Wieters deal is that someone will only give up real talent for him if they know they can sign him long term. Otherwise the Orioles will get shortchanged on talent by a team just looking for a rental.
Ok, Sroka, if the Orioles sign Wieters to a long term deal, I will buy you lunch at the Angler Inn in Dundalk. If they don’t sign him long term, you buy me lunch in Atlanta….how does that sound?
Ugh, I don’t know if lunch in Dundalk is that much of a prize, but fine I’ll do it. If he signs (or should I say WHEN he signs) you will buy me lunch at Angler Inn, but if he doesn’t sign then I will buy you lunch at Atlanta Bread Company. Deal.
Why not go to Jimmy’s seafood restaurant , it’s better than the ones downtown,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,just a thought from the spy…………………..
Matt, he’s talking about the city of Atlanta, not the Atlanta Bread Company. I know some great places by Georgia Tech University that serve some serious bar-b-que.
Shhhh, I was indeed talking about Atlanta! when I win, I will be enjoying my free lunch in downtown ATL!
Spy……! Where you been? Did they cut off wi-fi in Essex again? Kamenetz didn’t pay the bill? I heard you may have moved to Georgia?? I figure you love Essex too much to go to GA besides, isn’t the internet in GA too?
Where is this Georgia of which you speak,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,been real busy……………….
Atlanta, GA! Busy, you are retired. How can you b e busy unless it is busy in the sandbox?
Way too much family stuff , plus I have had two basal cells removed and due to have one more,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,nothing serious but not fun,,,,,,,,,,way too much sun in the sixties and seventies for me,,,,,,,,,,,,paying for it now,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,thanks for asking…………….