January 14, 2010

Extended Johnson

The Marlins signed pitcher Josh Johnson to a four-year contract extension:

Just days after agreeing to raise payroll, the Marlins have signed pitcher Josh Johnson to a four-year, $39 million extension, according to ESPN.

Johnson is coming off of a breakout 2009 campaign in which he racked up a 15-5 record with a 3.23 ERA and 191 strikeouts in 209 innings. All that came before his 26th birthday, which is at the end of this month.

According to Cot’s Baseball Contracts, Johnson’s got just over three years of service time, which means this deal will buy out his arbitration years plus his first year of free agency. it’s very similar to the deal that Zack Greinke signed with the Royals prior to the 2009 season, as ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick notes.

It’s a good deal for the Marlins, as one more year like 2009 and Johnson would likely make more than $10 million a year in arbitration. He’s only walked 175 batters in 481 1/3 career innings, and in his non-injury years has produced ERAs in the low threes. He’ll pitch as a 26 year old in 2010, so people should still expect improvements.

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