The Cleveland Indians have agreed to a minor league deal with free agent first baseman Nick Johnson.
Johnson, 32, is an absolute on-base machine when healthy. He has a .401 career OBP and got on base at a .426 clip in 2009. Over the last three seasons he’s posted a 19 percent walk rate, including 24 free passes in as many games last year with the New York Yankees.
The key there is “when healthy.” A wrist injury last season limited him to 24 games, and he has played only 195 contests over the last four years. He’s eclipsed 100 games only four times in his 10-year career.
Johnson will make $750,000 if he cracks the Tribe’s big-league roster. The deal includes a $2.75 million team option for 2012.
Original Story:
http://www.wahooblues.com/2011/03/08/...
