Former Marlins ace Josh Johnson is reportedly close to re-joining the San Diego Padres on a one-year deal after missing the 2014 season with an injury once again, something that has become a major issue for the right-hander during recent years.
Sources: Josh Johnson on the verge of a one-year deal with San Diego. Still hammering out final details. Big incentives for games started.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 18, 2014
Last offseason, the righty signed a one-year deal worth $8 million with the Padres, but failed to make a single start after requiring Tommy John surgery that cost him a shot at the $4 million team option for 2015. According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, this time around, the deal is worth $2 million, but the value of the deal could rise to $8 million with incentives.
The 30-year-old won’t see a big league mound before mid-season, but could be an impact arm down the stretch if he can stay healthy. At his best with the Marlins, he finished fifth in the National League Cy Young voting in 2010, while also earning his second-straight All-Star selection. That season, Johnson went 11-6, but posted a sterling 2.30 ERA, 2.41 FIP and 180 ERA+ in 28 starts spanning 183 2/3 innings of work.
Since that climax, the former fourth-round pick ha battled injuries, which ultimately led to his trade to the Toronto Blue Jays a few years back. With Toronto, he failed to materialize as the ace-type arm the Jays had hoped for, pitching to a 2-8 mark with an unsightly 6.20 earned run average in 16 starts. That disappointing campaign was his only spent with Toronto, which quickly moved on from the former talent.
Johnson joins the likes of Andrew Cashner, Ian Kennedy, Tyson Ross and others in the mix for rotation spots in the 2015 campaign, although he will likely slot in toward the back end of the rotation due to his injury history.