Has Kelly Johnson earned a contract from us next year

baulderdash77 · Post #1 » by **baulderdash77** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 1:28 pm

This has always been an extended look/contract discussion with Kelly.

He's hit .268/.366/.433 with us since he's come over and from what I've seen he's been great making the double play turn at 2B while otherwise looking just OK defensively. He's been hitting about his career average numbers with us since he's been here.

He's projected to be a Type B free agent and he's not going to be Type A with Michael Young in front of him.

So what do you guys think? What contract would you offer him next year?

I'd give him 3/21. I like the left handed bat and he gives us the kind of OBP skills with power that we never got from our 2B position in many years.

Scorpion King · Post #2 » by **Scorpion King** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 2:33 pm

He has not impressed enough to warrant a new contract. If someone wants to overpay for his services so be it

Tyrone Slothrop · Post #3 » by **Tyrone Slothrop** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 2:46 pm

We're not going to find a better second baseman in the free agent market, we don't have any 2B prospects in the minors, and we shouldn't give up top prospects for a 2b in a trade when we have more glaring issues (1B, starting pitchers). I would be disappointed if we didn't keep Johnson.

Relentless88 · Post #4 » by **Relentless88** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 2:47 pm

I think he has impressed enough to warrant a new contract. Johnson is the only guy, other than Jose and Esco, that can take walks. He's also solid defensively, and there isn't really a better option out there via FA. Maybe Brandon Phillips, but he'd be expensive.

Post #5 » by **YogiStewart** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 2:48 pm

barring a trade, you have no choice but to take KJ.
its pretty much him or Lind.
sign him to a 2 year deal for $2-3 mil/year.
and teach him how to properly slide into 2nd base.

baulderdash77 · Post #6 » by **baulderdash77** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 2:59 pm

He's making $5.9 million this year. He would get $7+ million in arbitration so there's no way he's take $2-3 million per year.

Brandon Phillips isn't going to be a FA- the Reds announced they're picking up his $12 million option.

I think he's about the 4th SS/2B on the market after Reyes, Rollins and Infante so there's other guys out there plus the trade route.

BigLeagueChew · Post #7 » by **BigLeagueChew** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 3:01 pm

try signing scutaro first, then Johnson.

dagger · Post #8 » by **dagger** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 4:07 pm

baulderdash77 wrote:He's making $5.9 million this year. He would get $7+ million in arbitration so there's no way he's take $2-3 million per year.

Brandon Phillips isn't going to be a FA- the Reds announced they're picking up his $12 million option.

I think he's about the 4th SS/2B on the market after Reyes, Rollins and Infante so there's other guys out there plus the trade route.

Well, I'd prefer Reyes, but Rogers isn't into spending like that. With Johnson, I'm nto sure he gets $7m in arbitration, and you might get him to sign for less than 7+ if he gets two years. Our payroll is so small that even if we do a one-yer deal for 7+ or whatever, it isn't going to kill us. I'd rather do a prospects for MLB ready type trade to fill other weaknesses.

Skin Blues · Post #9 » by **Skin Blues** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 4:40 pm

baulderdash77 wrote:I think he's about the 4th SS/2B on the market after Reyes, Rollins and Infante so there's other guys out there plus the trade route.

SS and 2B aren't the same position, and we already have a SS. 3B and 2B are better comp. Anyway... Infante is a career part-time player with a 711 OPS. No, thanks. His career year in 2010 is worse than Kelly Johnson's career average, and Johnson is a full-time player. Maybe Betemit if they don't keep Johnson... but we're not gonna get a star for 2B, so we can forget about that pipe dream.

dagger · Post #10 » by **dagger** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 4:43 pm

We're not going to have a star at every position, but we do need more stars, and there is a better chance of getting one at 1ST or the outfield than 2B, and so Johnson isn't a bad hitter to have in the 6-8 slot or even second when we go heavy with left handed batters.

number15 · Post #11 » by **number15** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 5:10 pm

Aaron Hill is looking good in Arizona too. I think he's earned a contract with them.

He's not the same star 2B but he's doing better than Johnson since the trade. Solid starting 2B.

Anyone agree?

Randle McMurphy · Post #12 » by **Randle McMurphy** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 7:48 pm

Kelly Johnson is a far better baseball player than Aaron Hill, so no, I don't agree.

Johnson's had the same amount of fWAR over the last two seasons as Prince Fielder, we really need to keep him.

Kurtz · Post #13 » by **Kurtz** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 11:49 pm

Average OPS in in AL is 729. I'd guess that for 2b it's probably around 700 OPS.

KJ has put up 790, and those are typical numbers for him. He's also good defensively.

There should be no argument here, we need to bring him back. 3/21 is pretty reasonable. Lol at the 2-3 mil a year notion. Maybe we can bring back Joey Macdonald for 2-3 million, and have him give us similar D at second base while throwing up a .550 OPS.

Post #14 » by **Nolan** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:05 am

Well considering we have no other options in our system I say we keep him. He's been decent so far though, he takes walk, has some power and he's solid defensively.

sonn · Post #15 » by **sonn** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 1:05 am

number15 wrote:Aaron Hill is looking good in Arizona too. I think he's earned a contract with them.

He's not the same star 2B but he's doing better than Johnson since the trade. Solid starting 2B.

Anyone agree?

No.

CapeCrusader · Post #16 » by **CapeCrusader** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 3:56 am

Unless we can steal a 2nd basemen in a trade for cheap then 2 more years of KJ wouldn't be a bad thing at all.

LBJSeizedMyID · Post #17 » by **LBJSeizedMyID** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 2:40 pm

number15 wrote:Aaron Hill is looking good in Arizona too. I think he's earned a contract with them.

He's not the same star 2B but he's doing better than Johnson since the trade. Solid starting 2B.

Anyone agree?

Both needed a change of scenery, and Hill has benefited more because the D'Backs are in the post season, hitting well as their #2 hitter and playing solid defense.

I like the fact that KJ is another left handed bat that can take walks; and is a guy that has power and speed while playing sound defense. The free agent market for second basemen is a weak one if memory serves me correct so yes, would want him back.

LBJSeizedMyID · Post #18 » by **LBJSeizedMyID** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 2:46 pm

number15 wrote:Aaron Hill is looking good in Arizona too. I think he's earned a contract with them.

He's not the same star 2B but he's doing better than Johnson since the trade. Solid starting 2B.

Anyone agree?

And yes, Aaron Hill has done better than KJ since the trade. Haters will keep hating because they have to after all the venom they spewed when the trade was made.

But again, it's a small sample size. Over the past two years KJ has been the much better player.

Anyway, for your enjoyment or if you're bored.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/2011/09/08/20110908arizona-diamondbacks-aaron-hill-impact.html

An excerpt from John McDonald on why Aaron Hill is turning things around:

McDonald doesn't buy the change in philosophy theory. Though the Blue Jays have gained a reputation in recent seasons for being aggressive and hitting home runs, he says Toronto hitting coach Dwayne Murphy and Diamondbacks hitting coach Don Baylor preach a lot of the same things.

"And Aaron's not up there hitting the ball the other way right now," McDonald said.

McDonald believes Hill didn't help himself by rushing back from leg injuries each of the past two seasons. Hill seems to acknowledge there might be some truth to the theory.

"Maybe as you get older," Hill said, "you look back and you maybe make sure you're ready to go come back when you're ready."

Take it however you want I guess.

Michael Bradley · Post #19 » by **Michael Bradley** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 4:47 pm

After 2010 and 2011, I never want to see Hill play 2B for the Jays again. If he finds long-term success in Arizona, then good for him, but I wouldn't be able to stomach him playing for this team again.

Bringing back Kelly Johnson is a no brainer at this point. He is coming off a poor season and is likely to rebound next season. Depends on what type of contract he would want.