Cubs sign Johnson to one-year deal
The Chicago Cubs signed Reed Johnson to a one-year, $1.3 million contract today. After being released by the Blue Jays on Sunday, it didn’t take Johnson long to get back into work.
Some reports have said that the Cubs are looking to use Johnson as a right handed counterpart to Felix Pie in centerfield, and based on the size of the contract, they’re at least expecting him to get quite a bit of playing time.
The idea is to use Pie in centerfield against right handed pitchers with Johnson starting against lefties. The fact that Johnson can play all outfield positions may earn him a few starts on the corners against right handed pitching, too.
There’s a part of me that says this is overkill on the part of the Cubs but then another part that likes the move. It just makes you wonder if the Cubs will ever fully commit to the idea of Pie being an every day major leaguer. I want to believe that he will be and the Cubs would be better off by just letting him have the position and allow him to play through a slow start, if it occurs, much like the Red Sox did with Dustin Pedroia a year ago. I see why they would want to have a player that could possibly take the at bats in center against lefties, but feel they should give Pie a chance against them before potentially giving him the early platoon label.
Filed under: Chicago Cubs, Felix Pie, Reed Johnson