Roch: O's and Nick Johnson closing in on minor league deal (O's sign Johnson)

[SammyBirdland]

LOL...Nick Johnson...

If he ever comes up from Norfolk, they'll have to send his kneecaps on a separate bus.

[byrdz]

I know you werent talking to me, but I don't see why we pick up guys like this all the time? Is he expected to make a contribution to the major league group?

Who knows? It's a long freaking season and anything could happen.

[Coker]

I'm still trying to figure out when Johnson EVER had anything in the tank. "Just one major league hitter Dan, just one":rolleyes:

No reason to get upset I guess. The guy will probably break a finger signing the contract.

Hell, he had a pretty great 2006...

[paulcoates]

How is signing someone to a minor league deal a bad move? If anything it's a neutral move. What is the downside, really?

Because even if he plays in AAA, he will likely miss half the season with a hangnail or something similar. This guy is the modern day Mr Glass

[paulcoates]

Please explain how this is a bad move. What is the worse case scenario?

He clogs up the AAA roster while hitting .200 or is on the DL for 75% of the season

[HankGChuck]

Who knows? It's a long freaking season and anything could happen.

Have the Orioles ever gotten lucky with a signing like this?

[TakebackOPACY]

March 11, 2011 article:

There are five main tendon's in the wrist. Dr. Graham told Johnson he can still swing the bat effectively with four.

"He took the tendon out and hopefully there's no more pain in the wrist," said Johnson.

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2011/03/nick_johnson_right_wrist_in_ca.html

Solid minor league signing.

[waroriole]

According to BR it was .316.

Yeah, you're right. I looked it up, did something else, and then typed that out.

[Austin]

He clogs up the AAA roster while hitting .200 or is on the DL for 75% of the season

Who is he blocking? This is the lowest risk the team can take. What does it matter if he's injured? He's not taking up a roster spot and he isn't costing any meaningful amount of money.

[connja]

Low risk, high upside signing. I'm a fan.

high upside? really?

[jjb]

Who is he blocking?/QUOTE] If both Johnson and Larish are kept at AAA, it could keep Mahoney down at Bowie. I'm don't know if that matters much as far as Mahoney's development, but I think it was widely assumed that he'd start off at Norfolk.

[paulcoates]

Who is he blocking? This is the lowest risk the team can take. What does it matter if he's injured? He's not taking up a roster spot and he isn't costing any meaningful amount of money.

You like it.

I don't

[Roll Tide]

You like it.

I don't

Ditto ...Can we stop sifting through the bargain bin already!

[Lucky Jim]

I swear, the off-season around here is like watching someone pick lint from their navel...

...and then having to listen to them scream at it.

[Austin]

No reason to get upset I guess. The guy will probably break a finger signing the contract.

The guy will probably break a finger signing the contract. And just when I thought things couldn't get any worse.

I think you could try a little harder. At least change a couple words.

Anyway, this is a low-risk signing, and there's possibly no reward, but it costs basically nothing. I wish we could sign big name free agents too but it doesn't have to be one or the other.