Seeking to add a proven veteran to their bullpen, the Braves turned to a familiar face by signing Jim Johnson to a one-year, $2.5 million contract Monday.
It’s the second offseason in a row the Braves have signed Johnson, 32, who bounced back from a career-worst 2014 season with Oakland and Detroit to post a 2.25 ERA and nine saves in 49 appearances for the Braves last season before they sent him to the Dodgers in the July 30 trade that brought Hector Olivera to Atlanta.
Johnson struggled mightily with the Dodgers after the trade, recording a 10.13 ERA in 23 appearances to give him a 4.46 ERA for the season in 72 games, with 50 strikeouts in 66 2/3 innings.
But with the Braves, he had a 60.8-percent ground-ball rate and allowed only two homers in 48 innings. Johnson posted a 1.48 ERA and eight saves in his last 41 appearances for the Braves, moving from a setup role to closer after Jason Grilli ruptured an achilles’ tendon in the final weekend before the All-Star break.
Johnson signed for $1.6 million a year ago, just two years removed from his consecutive 50-save seasons for Baltimore. He had to take the big pay cut after seeing his ERA, which had been 2.67, 2.49 and 2.94 during the 2011-2013 seasons with Baltimore, balloon to 7.09 in 54 appearances in 2014 with the Athletics and Tigers. He lost his closer job early on that season with the A’s.
Working with Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell, himself a former major league reliever and sinkerballer, Johnson was able to quickly make adjustments during spring training and get comfortable with his bread-and-butter pitch again. The Braves are counting on him being able to find a similar groove in his second season working with McDowell.
The Braves hope to have Grilli back for spring training, and hard-throwing Arodys Vizcaino returns for his second season after impressing in the closer role following Johnson’s departure in July.
The Braves will look to add more depth and a lefty to go with their other returning relievers, including two other hard throwers coming back from injuries — right-handers Chris Withrow, acquired in a mid-season trade from the Dodgers, and Shae Simmons, who had Tommy John elbow surgery in February and could be back by May.
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