The Diamondbacks avoided arbitration with Kelly Johnson and agreed to a one-year deal, the team announced. Johnson will earn $5.85MM next year, according to the AP (via the Boston Herald). As our Arb Tracker shows, Johnson asked for $6.5MM and the D'Backs countered with a $4.7MM offer.
The Braves non-tendered Johnson before last season and he responded with career-highs in homers (26) and slugging percentage (.496). He added 36 doubles and a .370 OBP while playing second base. Johnson, 28, earned $2.35MM last year. He is set to hit free agency after the 2011 season.
Only four arbitration eligible players remain unsigned for 2011: Jose Bautista, Hunter Pence, Rickie Weeks and Delmon Young.
When the number comes out it will definitely help solve the Weeks-Brewers talks. He is Weeks’s most logical comparison. Power hitting 2b with an inconsistent track record. If long term talks break down, Johnson plays a significant, if not dispositive, role in Weeks’s 2011 salary
I completely agree. Johnson’s figure is slightly closer to the Brewers arby number than it is to Weeks figure, so I’m guessing the pressure is more on Weeks to get something done before the hearing.