Cubs Sign Reed Johnson to 1-Year Deal (Updated)

[soapy]

Let me say, I have interest in Johnson but not at the expense of Murton. Murton > Johnson. One of Fukudome or Soriano has to bite the bullet and play CF on occasion against a LHP if there isn't another alternative.

 

If they can/will keep them both (Johnson and Murton), then I'm down.

[CubinNY]

Reed Johnson would be a waste of time.

 

I disagree completely.

 

Johnson's production against left-handers is much better than Pie's, which addresses a struggle the Cubs have had for years.

 

Pie's overall numbers also look better if it's not being brought way down by all those left-handers, which makes the Cubs less likely to replace him and gives him a better chance to get a fair shot.

I don't like the idea of a platoon partner for Pie. Letting him play only against LHers is not giving him a fair shot. The Cubs have to let him play. This is the same tired old story year after god forsaken year with the Cubs.

Wait . . . you mean RHers, right?? And since that's the majority of pitchers, I'd say that IS a fair shot for Pie. Rest him against LHers (that he's going to do poorly against anyway)and put him in positions that he may well excel in . . .

Yea I meant RHers. Thanks for the clarification. A platoon is not a good idea for the development of young player aside from it being a terrible waste of assets. How is Pie going to get better if he never (or rarely) faces LH pitching? They might as well trade him while his value is high b/c once he get the "platoon" label he will fetch pennies on the dollar.

[Springfield_CUBBY]

Reed Johnson would be a waste of time.

 

I disagree completely.

 

Johnson's production against left-handers is much better than Pie's, which addresses a struggle the Cubs have had for years.

 

Pie's overall numbers also look better if it's not being brought way down by all those left-handers, which makes the Cubs less likely to replace him and gives him a better chance to get a fair shot.

I don't like the idea of a platoon partner for Pie. Letting him play only against LHers is not giving him a fair shot. The Cubs have to let him play. This is the same tired old story year after god forsaken year with the Cubs.

Wait . . . you mean RHers, right?? And since that's the majority of pitchers, I'd say that IS a fair shot for Pie. Rest him against LHers (that he's going to do poorly against anyway)and put him in positions that he may well excel in . . .

Yea I meant RHers. Thanks for the clarification. A platoon is not a good idea for the development of young player aside from it being a terrible waste of assets. How is Pie going to get better if he never (or rarely) faces LH pitching? They might as well trade him while his value is high b/c once he get the "platoon" label he will fetch pennies on the dollar.

Bit a platoon COULD help him ease into MLB pitching better, and PERHAPS reach the potential we all hope he has. Lefties just kill him, so I guess I don't have a problem with putting him in positions where the odds are in his favor . . .

[CubinNY]

Reed Johnson would be a waste of time.

 

I disagree completely.

 

Johnson's production against left-handers is much better than Pie's, which addresses a struggle the Cubs have had for years.

 

Pie's overall numbers also look better if it's not being brought way down by all those left-handers, which makes the Cubs less likely to replace him and gives him a better chance to get a fair shot.

I don't like the idea of a platoon partner for Pie. Letting him play only against LHers is not giving him a fair shot. The Cubs have to let him play. This is the same tired old story year after god forsaken year with the Cubs.

Wait . . . you mean RHers, right?? And since that's the majority of pitchers, I'd say that IS a fair shot for Pie. Rest him against LHers (that he's going to do poorly against anyway)and put him in positions that he may well excel in . . .

Yea I meant RHers. Thanks for the clarification. A platoon is not a good idea for the development of young player aside from it being a terrible waste of assets. How is Pie going to get better if he never (or rarely) faces LH pitching? They might as well trade him while his value is high b/c once he get the "platoon" label he will fetch pennies on the dollar.

Bit a platoon COULD help him ease into MLB pitching better, and PERHAPS reach the potential we all hope he has. Lefties just kill him, so I guess I don't have a problem with putting him in positions where the odds are in his favor . . .

I guess I have a hard time seeing how having him NOT face MLB left handed pitching could help him ease into a situation where he feels comfortable facing MLB left handed pitching.

 

My thinking is that he either is or is not going to be able to hit major league pitching, trying to protect him isn't going to help him one bit.

[Tracer Bullet]

Ok could somebody please tell me why we are looking for a RH hitting outfielder, when we have a little red head on the team that mashes left handed pitching? On days we face a lefty why not just move Fukudome to CF, and plug Murton into RF, that seems like the most logical, and most productive alignment we could ask for, but then again this is the Cubs who seem to want nothing to do with Murton for some damn reason.

 

I totally agree. The one thing that Hendry and Lou share is that they have a habit of totally ignoring certain players (Murton, Cedeno, Marshall) and obsessing over others (Theriot, Roberts) usually without a good reason. As you posted, sliding Fukudome over to CF and using Murton in RF is 1000 times better than signing Johnson or trading for the likes of Payton, Byrd, Willits, etc.

 

It's not complicated, really. Murton can't play CF. End of analysis.

 

seems like pretty faulty analysis to me.

[jersey cubs fan]

How sure are people that Johnson can play CF? It looks like he played a little while young, then less and less as he reached his late 20's. Now he's in his 30's.

 

The more I hear about this the less I like. It seems to make a hell of a lot more sense to put Fukudome in CF from time to time when Pie needs to sit, and let Murton play RF.

[Springfield_CUBBY]

Ok could somebody please tell me why we are looking for a RH hitting outfielder, when we have a little red head on the team that mashes left handed pitching? On days we face a lefty why not just move Fukudome to CF, and plug Murton into RF, that seems like the most logical, and most productive alignment we could ask for, but then again this is the Cubs who seem to want nothing to do with Murton for some damn reason.

 

I totally agree. The one thing that Hendry and Lou share is that they have a habit of totally ignoring certain players (Murton, Cedeno, Marshall) and obsessing over others (Theriot, Roberts) usually without a good reason. As you posted, sliding Fukudome over to CF and using Murton in RF is 1000 times better than signing Johnson or trading for the likes of Payton, Byrd, Willits, etc.

 

It's not complicated, really. Murton can't play CF. End of analysis.

 

seems like pretty faulty analysis to me.

I agree. Keener was not advocating that Murton play CF - just that simple changes could be made, if needed, with the players we have already to cover all 3 OF spots.

[Tracer Bullet]

Ok could somebody please tell me why we are looking for a RH hitting outfielder, when we have a little red head on the team that mashes left handed pitching? On days we face a lefty why not just move Fukudome to CF, and plug Murton into RF, that seems like the most logical, and most productive alignment we could ask for, but then again this is the Cubs who seem to want nothing to do with Murton for some damn reason.

 

I totally agree. The one thing that Hendry and Lou share is that they have a habit of totally ignoring certain players (Murton, Cedeno, Marshall) and obsessing over others (Theriot, Roberts) usually without a good reason. As you posted, sliding Fukudome over to CF and using Murton in RF is 1000 times better than signing Johnson or trading for the likes of Payton, Byrd, Willits, etc.

 

It's not complicated, really. Murton can't play CF. End of analysis.

 

seems like pretty faulty analysis to me.

I agree. Keener was not advocating that Murton play CF - just that simple changes could be made, if needed, with the players we have already to cover all 3 OF spots.

 

Yes, the obvious choice seems to be having Murton in RF and Fukudome in CF on the days Pie is sitting. If Pie sucks for months and Hendry wants to replace him, it's not going to be with Reed Johnson, so not having him isn't going to hurt us.

[Post Count Padder]

Newsday reports that the Mets are interested in Reed Johnson.

 

Johnson would fill in for Moises Alou as he recovers from a hernia, and then assume a role as New York's fourth outfielder. He should have a new home in the next day or two.

Source: Newsday

[Guest]

Is anyone else driven crazy by having such a limited bench because managers feel the need to carry seven bloody relievers these days?

[jersey cubs fan]

Is anyone else driven crazy by having such a limited bench because managers feel the need to carry seven bloody relievers these days?

 

Yes.

[Jon]

Is anyone else driven crazy by having such a limited bench because managers feel the need to carry seven bloody relievers these days?

 

Yes.

But it looks like we're finally past the "I don't want to carry a 12 man staff but I will anyways" quotes.

 

Unless I'm just not reading enough articles.

[Clem Fandango]

Reed Johnson would be a waste of time.

 

He'd likely be a relatively cheap alternative to fill a position Hendry is hellbent on filling, and allows us to utilize Murton in a trade for something else other than crappy Marlon Byrd. If we sign Reed we can throw Murton in a deal for a better player (if there will be another deal, anyways), since I would assume Murton still has a decent amount of trade value

 

I thought Jim's been open to trading Murton ever since he signed Fukudome. Wasn't there a story around the time he made the "life would be easier if Murton were LH" comment that he was trying to trade Matt to a team where he'd have a chance to play?

 

What valuable piece is Murton going to net us? He's never been untouchable, so if the Orioles wanted him for Roberts, that wouldn't have been the hold up. If we get Reed Johnson, I don't think Jim's going to try to get Byrd or Crisp. So what good is it to trade Murton now?

 

At this point, unless we're trading him for an upgrade somewhere (SS, SP), I'd rather have him as a 4th OF than trade him for nothing. If Soriano misses time with leg issues, I'd rather have Murton out there as a 2-3 week fill-in than Reed Johnson.

 

Well, call me crazy, but I like to think Murton has the ability to bring back someone a little more valuable than Marlon Byrd. I'd love to have Murton as a 4th OF, but it appears he's going to be traded eventually, it'd be nice if they can sign Reed to avoid Byrd all together, and while Murton himself can't bring back anyone who is going to make a significant difference, he could probably be used in a multi-player deal to sweeten the pot. I'm not saying use him in the Roberts deal, clearly they didn't want him. That or the O's are idiots, which is likely the case. But still I think he could be more valuable as an add-on to a multi player trade than a one-for-one BS trade that nets us Marlon "I had the best year of my career one year ago in a hitters park" Byrd

[Backtobanks]

Cubs just signed Reed Johnson from MLB Trade Rumors

[XZero771679666304]

Cubs just signed Reed Johnson from MLB Trade Rumors

 

Well that didn't take long.

[CUBZ99]

Hendry is going all out. :lol:

[Outshined_One]

Well, hopefully this will put an end to those annoying Byrd rumors.

[Backtobanks]

Well, hopefully this will put an end to those annoying Byrd rumors.

 

But it does make you wonder where Murton is going and for whom.

[Guest]

CUBS, outfielder reed johnson agree

to one-year contract

 

ADDITIONALLY, Cubs announce fifth round of roster cuts;

 

place Righthander angel guzman on 60-day disabled list

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

 

 

 

MESA, AZ – The Chicago Cubs today announced the club has agreed to terms with outfielder Reed Johnson on a one-year contract. Johnson, who will wear uniform number 13, is scheduled to be in the Cubs line-up for this afternoon’s game against San Francisco in Scottsdale.

 

 

 

Additionally, the club today announced its fifth round of roster cuts.

 

 

 

The Cubs optioned outfielders Sam Fuld and Eric Patterson to Triple-A Iowa and assigned left-handed pitcher Les Walrond and infielders Micah Hoffpauir and Casey McGehee to minor league camp.

 

 

 

Also, the Cubs today placed right-handed pitcher Angel Guzman on the 60-day disabled list with status post ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction of his right elbow.

 

 

 

Johnson, 31, is a career .281 hitter (585-for-2083) with 114 doubles, 14 triples, 42 home runs, and a .342 on-base percentage in all or part of five major league seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays (2003-07) covering 610 games. He has excelled in his career vs. left-handed pitching, batting .308 (216-for-701) with a .371 on-base percentage and a .462 slugging percentage vs. southpaws.

 

 

 

The right-handed batter and thrower has batted in the leadoff spot in 394 games, batting .290 (443-for-1526) with a .353 on-base percentage, and batted in the second spot in the order in 104 games, posting a .273 batting average. He has seen action in 398 games in left field, 197 games in right and 64 games in center.

 

 

 

In his last full major league season with the Blue Jays in 2006, Johnson batted .319 (147-for-461) with 86 runs scored, 34 doubles, 12 home runs, a .390 on-base percentage and a .479 slugging percentage in 134 games, all career bests. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder missed more than three months last season due to surgery on April 17 to correct a herniated disc in his lower back. He batted .236 in only 79 contests, though still hit .325 (25-for-77) with a .381 on-base percentage vs. left-handed pitching.

 

 

 

Following today’s moves, Chicago’s spring roster of 32 players consists of 17 pitchers (including Guzman and non-roster invitee Chad Fox), two catchers, eight infielders (one non-roster invitee) and five outfielders.

[TheDude]

Ok could somebody please tell me why we are looking for a RH hitting outfielder, when we have a little red head on the team that mashes left handed pitching? On days we face a lefty why not just move Fukudome to CF, and plug Murton into RF, that seems like the most logical, and most productive alignment we could ask for, but then again this is the Cubs who seem to want nothing to do with Murton for some damn reason.

 

I totally agree. The one thing that Hendry and Lou share is that they have a habit of totally ignoring certain players (Murton, Cedeno, Marshall) and obsessing over others (Theriot, Roberts) usually without a good reason. As you posted, sliding Fukudome over to CF and using Murton in RF is 1000 times better than signing Johnson or trading for the likes of Payton, Byrd, Willits, etc.

 

It's not complicated, really. Murton can't play CF. End of analysis.

 

seems like pretty faulty analysis to me.

I agree. Keener was not advocating that Murton play CF - just that simple changes could be made, if needed, with the players we have already to cover all 3 OF spots.

 

The trouble with that thinking is that GM and coach of the team have not indicated they believe anyone but Pie or Fuld can play the position of CF. Both the decision making management levels don't believe anyone on the current roster can already cover all three positions in OF.

 

So this idea that Hendry or Piniella should wake and recognize some combination of Murton, DeRosa, Ward, and Fukudome as capable back-ups for any/all outfield positions isn't going to happen unless all other options hit the wall.

 

Considering all the rumors for choices (Crisp, Byrd, Johnson), Johnson would be the least costly to the franchise, which makes him the best choice by lesser of evils rationale.

 

For me personally, it seems by indications that Fukudome is capable in CF, but then he is playing everyday, unless he sits in RF some days, where the Cubs have 3 other options. I'm curious why Cubs management hasn't considered the option like everyone else, but it's clear from months of rumors that they are not.

[Clem Fandango]

Well, hopefully this will put an end to those annoying Byrd rumors.

 

+1. If we traded Murton for Byrd I was gonna crap a hernia

[Outshined_One]

Aw, I was hoping Hoffpauir would make the team as a 1B/OF reserve. Oh well.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Good move in signing Johnson. I hope that we don't trade Murton just for the hell of it. I actually like both Murton and Johnson on the bench.

[Derwood]

done deal per ESPN bottom line

[UMFan83]

People say our bench is weak but I don't see it...

 

Ward

R. Johnson/Pie

Murton

Cedeno

Blanco