Steve Davis: Thoughts On Johnson Trade
The Orioles traded Jim Johnson, a guy with back to back 50 save seasons, for Jemile Weeks, a player who many think is a bust.
So, what do we make of this? More than anything, it's a salary dump.
The Orioles just didn't think Jim Johnson was worth $10 million, and they got what they could, which doesn't appear to be much. Even Dan Duquette kind of acknowledged all that when he came on the show Tuesday morning (Check out that interview HERE). He said it is about resource allocation and if they could have gotten more for Johnson they would have.
Weeks had a very good rookie year in 2011, when he hit .303 for Oakland. Then, he was demoted late in 2012 after hitting in the low .200's, and then in 2013, was buried at Triple-A, getting only 9 at bats in the majors. He is primarily a second baseman, but Duquette told us on the show that this doesn't mean he will be the second baseman, and the door on Roberts isn't closed.
The good news is that he said the $10 million they are saving on Johnson will not go to player raises for guys like Wieters and Davis. He said it will fund an acquisition. Duquette didn't say who would close, but in saying that the market is flooded with closers, seemed to indicate they will sign a veteran to at least compete with someone like Hunter and O'Day. I am okay with the trade, assuming they bolster the club.
However, I don't love the fact that we are hearing about "resource allocation." How about "resource expansion", meaning we are going to spend more money, more of that "MASN money" to really go after a World Series.
