How has Johnson not been released?

[bravesfanforlife88]

It is 11am ,2 days after his latest meltdown where he failed to record an out and all 4 batters faced scored. With a 9+ era in his last several outings, how have we not cut bait yet. Very disappointed in the FO for this. Call me a nega brave if you want

[sturg33]

Because we owe him another $5M next year

[bravesfanforlife88]

Because we owe him another $5M next year

So instead of paying him $5m to go away, we are going to pay him $5m to lose games for us...? #bravesway

[sturg33]

So instead of paying him $5m to go away, we are going to pay him $5m to lose games for us...? #bravesway

Yes. See Kemp, Matt

[bravesfanMatt]

Yes. See Kemp, Matt

you wanted me to see Kemp?

[steveAKAslick]

I get that he's owed money but so was Colon, sometimes you just gotta suck it up and do what you gotta do

[rico43]

I get that he's owed money but so was Colon, sometimes you just gotta suck it up and do what you gotta do

Don't think the Dodgers will take him off their hands again this year.

[sturg33]

I get that he's owed money but so was Colon, sometimes you just gotta suck it up and do what you gotta do

JJ has shown enough - even this year - to justify keeping him around considering our committment

[gilesfan]

Johnson would be a good buy low candidate for a team needing a RH reliever (Nats?). Cutting him would be stupid; he's suffering from this thing called bad luck.

[Tapate50]

Johnson would be a good buy low candidate for a team needing a RH reliever (Nats?). Cutting him would be stupid; he's suffering from this thing called bad luck.

See also MEATBALLITIS. Its when most of your pitches find the heart of the plate and exit quickly.



And before you or someone rush in here to correct me about the numbers...Im joking.

[cajunrevenge]

Maybe he is doing exactly what we paid him to do. He was pretty solid until the wheels came off the whole team. I have to think he is helping us tank for the draft. 2018 is looking like a great year, especially in High School prospects from Georgia. I also dont think its a coincidence that Johnson was signed until the year Kimbrel is a free agent.




edit - Kimbrel now at 17k per 9 innings and 1.5 walks per 9. 102 strikeouts in 54 innings. Average FB velocity now up to 98.4. He seriously has added 1.1 mph in velocity this year. First year with us he was averaging 95 mph. At the rate he is going he is going to be throwing 105 by the time he is 40.

[JohnAdcox]

Maybe he is doing exactly what we paid him to do. He was pretty solid until the wheels came off the whole team. I have to think he is helping us tank for the draft. 2018 is looking like a great year, especially in High School prospects from Georgia. I also dont think its a coincidence that Johnson was signed until the year Kimbrel is a free agent.

edit - Kimbrel now at 17k per 9 innings and 1.5 walks per 9. 102 strikeouts in 54 innings. Average FB velocity now up to 98.4. He seriously has added 1.1 mph in velocity this year. First year with us he was averaging 95 mph. At the rate he is going he is going to be throwing 105 by the time he is 40.

It would be an unspeakably, mind-numbingly stupid use of resources and an all-around bad idea to resign Kimbrel when he (finally!) becomes a free-agent. That said, I am for it and hope it happens.

[50PoundHead]

Johnson would be a good buy low candidate for a team needing a RH reliever (Nats?). Cutting him would be stupid; he's suffering from this thing called bad luck.

Johnson has these inexplicable streaks when he is simply horrible. Look at his numbers in his short stint with the Dodgers after we traded him to them. He was solid after taking over for Vizcaino last season and looked decent again this year until July. Then the wheels--which arguably were a bit wobbly already--totally fell off.

I thought signing him to a one-year deal at the $5 MM wasn't a bad idea, but somehow this front office seems to give that extra year to some guys for no reason at all and the second year with a guy like Johnson doesn't make a ton of sense. If he goes somewhere else as a result, so be it. I think it was nsacpi that pointed out years ago that years are often a bigger problem than AAV when it comes to contracts, especially for mid-market teams and I believe that was the case here.

I'd shut him down for now and see how he responds in spring training 2018. If he regains any level of effectiveness, there probably would be a taker out there.

[chipchildress]

Maybe he is doing exactly what we paid him to do. He was pretty solid until the wheels came off the whole team. I have to think he is helping us tank for the draft. 2018 is looking like a great year, especially in High School prospects from Georgia. I also dont think its a coincidence that Johnson was signed until the year Kimbrel is a free agent.




edit - Kimbrel now at 17k per 9 innings and 1.5 walks per 9. 102 strikeouts in 54 innings. Average FB velocity now up to 98.4. He seriously has added 1.1 mph in velocity this year. First year with us he was averaging 95 mph. At the rate he is going he is going to be throwing 105 by the time he is 40.

very solid post. somehow though, we need to work in some way for the braves to save some money and accomplish little else at the same time. oh wait, that was the kimbrel trade! and the board rejoiced because ownership dumped a bad contract!

i got it, trade jim johnson, matt kemp, and ronald acuna away to cut those contracts and i'm sure plenty here will rejoice. that's actually a double win because then we wouldn't have to waste a year of acuna's servie time on a bad team next year.

[Southcack77]

So instead of paying him $5m to go away, we are going to pay him $5m to lose games for us...? #bravesway

Because the last time he blew up like this in a second half as a closer he ended up being a good setup man the following season.

Cutting him now would be dumb, but I certainly did hope he would be traded at the deadline. They can cut him next spring if he still sucks.

[Southcack77]

I would be an unspeakably, mind-numbingly stupid use of resources and an all-around bad idea to resign Kimbrel when he (finally!) becomes a free-agent. That said, I am for it and hope it happens.

I don't know. Closer might be a spot the Braves could upgrade without completely blowing the bank on a risky acquisition. If their prospects shine, maybe that would be good resource allocation for a team actually contending.