Infielder Chris Johnson Signs With Marlins
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Tuesday appears to be signing day for the Miami Marlins.
After reports emerged that Miami had signed starting pitcher Wei-Yin Chen to a 5 year $80 million contract, another signing by the beleaguered franchise became known.
The Marlins have signed infielder Chris Johnson to an undisclosed deal to shore up the teams bench.
Johnson is a career .280 hitter during seven seasons in the majors.
He is likely to serve as a backup at both first base and third base.
Last season Johnson played with the Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians, hitting a combined .255 with three home runs and 18 RBIs in 83 games.
In 2014 with Atlanta he hit .263 with 10 home runs and 58 RBIs.
Johnson is a much better hitter against left handed pitching, which works out well with Miami's starting first baseman Justin Bour who has struggled against lefties.
Bour hit just .221 against left handed pitching last season while Johnson hit .326.
In Johnson's 667 career MLB games, he has played 627 of them at third base and just 49 at first base.
Johnson has some history with Marlins pitching ace Jose Fernandez.
In 2013 after Fernandez hit his first career home run against the Braves, his slow home run trot upset several Atlanta players.
Johnson was playing third base that day and the two exchanged words as Fernandez rounded the bag.
Both benches were cleared though eventually cooler heads prevailed.
