One of the more intriguing pitchers on the free agent market this offseason was Josh Johnson. The 6-foot-7 right-hander has the profile of an ace and when healthy, he's pitched like a No. 1 starter. But that's the caveat: Can Johnson stay healthy through a full MLB season? That question reduced his market value, but made the 29-year-old an appealing possibility for a one-year contract.
Several teams were interested in taking a chance on Johnson, but the Padres are the club he'll pitch for next season. Johnson agreed to a one-year, $8 million deal with San Diego on Tuesday after passing a physical. The contract is expected to be officially announced on Wednesday. Besides the $8 million base salary, Johnson's contract not only includes the opportunity for him to make more money. But the Padres have also covered themselves if Johnson again falls to injury.
According to Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Passan, Johnson can make an additional $1.5 million if he makes 26 starts next year. That shouldn't be a problem if he stays healthy, but Johnson has started that many games in only three of his nine major league seasons. He made 31 starts for the Marlins in 2011.
However, if Johnson makes fewer than seven starts next season, that triggers a $4 million club option for the Padres in 2015. It's similar to a clause the Red Sox had in John Lackey's contract. Boston holds a club option at the league-minimum salary for 2015 because Lackey missed all of 2012 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Johnson made 16 starts this past season for the Blue Jays, finishing with a 2-8 record, 6.20 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 81.1 innings. However, he also gave up 105 hits, resulting in the highest rate of hits allowed per nine innings in a season during which he started at least 14 games. The right-hander was out for all of May this year due to triceps inflammation. A strained forearm ended Johnson's season in early August and he eventually had arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone spur in his right elbow.
In 2011, Johnson was limited to nine starts due to a shoulder injury. He had reconstructive surgery on his right elbow in 2007.
But again, when healthy, Johnson can be a dominant pitcher. In 2009, his first full season after Tommy John surgery, he went 15-5 with a 3.23 ERA in 33 starts for the Marlins. He threw 209 innings, the only time he's surpassed 200 frames, while striking out 191 batters. The following season, Johnson led the National League with a 2.30 ERA, while compiling an 11-6 record and 186 strikeouts in 183.2 innings.
Johnson also drew interest from the Giants, Pirates and Dodgers. ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reports that the right-hander turned down bigger one-year offers to sign with the Padres.
Petco Park is the most pitcher-friendly park in MLB, according to ESPN.com's park factors. That was apparently an important consideration to Johnson, whose other top choice was the Giants and AT&T Park. Perhaps Johnson also wanted to pitch where he could concentrate on his recovery and staying healthy, rather than compromise that with the pressure of a pennant race. That's merely speculation, however.
With Johnson, the Padres have an intriguing starting staff going into next season. Andrew Cashner and Eric Stults will presumably be the top two starters in the rotation, with Tyson Ross and Ian Kennedy likely to take two other spots. Burch Smith and Robbie Erlin could also be in the mix, while Joe Wieland and Cory Luebke will also be returning after having Tommy John surgery in 2012.
That gives San Diego and general manager Josh Byrnes plenty of options to work with, and some depth to tap into for help at other positions, if needed.
