Cleveland Indians center fielder Michael Bourn catches a fly ball at the wall hit by Los Angeles Angels’ Kole Calhoun during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, August 3, 2015.
Advertisement
Johnson was one of the Braves’ most surprising players after being acquired from Arizona in 2013, hitting a career-best. He’s guaranteed $7.5 million next year, $9 million in 2017 and a $1 million buyout (or $10 million in salary if the option is exercised) for 2018.
Johnson has played sparingly for the Braves this season.
The 34-year-old Swisher, another former All-Star, is batting just.
Clearly, the Braves have once again decided to take on a lot of “bad” money in order to accomplish their goals in this rebuild, because they aren’t exactly getting a lot of talent back in this deal. Prior to this year, Johnson turned in a.287/.324/.420 slash line with an average of 12 homers, 30 doubles and 67 RBIs over the 2012-14 seasons.
As part of the deal, Cleveland will send $10 million to Atlanta to offset to cost of taking on both Swisher and Bourn. Both players were considered likely candidates to clear waivers due to their high salaries, opening the door for the teams to complete a waiver-wire deal.
Swisher, 34, is now on the disabled list and is in the midst of his second disappointing season with the Indians.
Heading to Cleveland is the versatile infielder Johnson.
Johnson makes slightly more sense for Cleveland, though his acquisition is still a head-scratcher.
Johnson, 30, missed most of May with a broken left hand and is hitting.
Not only did Johnson lose his third base job this season, he had fallen so far on the depth chart that he was essentially Atlanta’s third-string first baseman, drawing starts at that position only because first baseman Freddie Freeman was hurt and utilityman Kelly Johnson was traded, and even then Johnon had to fight off Joey Terdoslavich for playing time. He is hitting. 246 with 19 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. A wrist injury has limited him to 56 games and a part-time role with the Braves this year -.235 with two homers and 11 RBIs.
I didn’t think a deal like this could happen, but I’m glad to be wrong.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, they’ve saved $21.5 million in 2016 payroll, while adding $9 million in 2017 payroll and $1 million in 2018 payroll.
