As someone who played for three different organizations during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, Chris Johnson was beyond pleased that the third team on that list, the Braves, saw fit to give him some long-term security Friday.
The Braves continued locking up players to multiyear extensions by signing Johnson to a three-year, $23.5 million extension that includes a $10 million team option for 2018.
“I bounced around for a little while there,” Johnson said. “I got traded from Houston to Arizona, then went from Arizona to here. I think that’s the biggest thing — everybody talks about the money and everything, but for me it’s people believing in you, people saying, ‘Hey, you’re our guy.’
“It gives me goose bumps just thinking about that and hearing that. And that’s what (general manager) Frank (Wren) told me today when we went upstairs to sign the contract.”
Johnson is the sixth Braves player signed in the past three months to multiyear extensions worth a guaranteed $304.2 million. He will make $6 million in 2015, $7.5 million in 2016 and $9 million in 2017. The $10 million option for 2018 comes with a $1 million buyout.
After finishing second in the National League batting race with a .321 average in 2013, Johnson is off to a slow start in his second season with the Braves, batting .255 with six doubles, one home run, four RBIs and a .290 on-base percentage in 26 games. He went 3-for-3 with a walk Thursday night in Miami.
He’s a .286 career hitter in the majors. In addition to batting average, Johnson set career-highs last season in doubles (34), OBP (.358), games played (142) and plate appearances (547).
“He goes out there and plays hard every single day, plays with a lot of passion — obviously — and we love that,” teammate Freddie Freeman said. “He wants to win, he wants to succeed and play well. Everybody gravitates toward guys who are like that.”
Hudson enjoying visit: Pitching for a team thousands of miles away in San Francisco but hardly forgotten in Braves Country, Tim Hudson returned to his Southern roots for the weekend and was glad he wouldn't pitch against his former teammates during a Braves-Giants weekend series at Turner Field.
“It would be a little weird,” said Hudson, who spent nine seasons with the Braves before signing with the Giants in November. “It’s kind of nice just to be able to come here and enjoy it. Enjoy the fans, enjoy my family, be able to see my old teammates again and just be able to catch up a little bit, not have to go out there and worry about trying to get them out.”
The Braves should be glad, too, considering the 38-year-old right-hander has been San Francisco’s best starting pitcher so far, with a 4-1 record and 2.17 ERA in five starts. He leads Giants starters in wins, ERA, innings (45 2/3), opponents’ average (.195) and opponents’ OBP (.208). He has 31 strikeouts with only two walks.
All this after coming back from a severely broken ankle that required season-ending surgery following a gruesome incident July 24 in New York.
“I’m really happy with how the first month has gone,” Hudson said. “Obviously it’s a long year, but coming to spring training I just felt like I had a lot to prove.”
Floyd ready to go: Gavin Floyd has been assured he'll be activated from the disabled list Sunday, but the veteran starting pitcher hasn't been told what his role will be. For good reason, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
“We don’t know,” Gonzalez said, meaning team officials haven’t decided. “But he’ll be activated Sunday.”
Floyd, 31, is in the 52nd week of rehab from Tommy John elbow surgery and will have used up the maximum 30 days of his rehab assignment. When the Braves signed him to a one-year, $4 million contract this winter, they thought they would have a spot for him in their rotation when he was ready.
What they didn’t expect was a majors-leading ERA from their starters through the first month of the season. Rookie David Hale was bumped from the rotation to make room for left-hander Mike Minor, who came off the DL to start Friday against the Giants. Rookie reliever Gus Schlosser was optioned to Triple-A to make room on the 25-man roster for Minor.
But the remaining starters — Aaron Harang, Ervin Santana, Julio Teheran, Alex Wood — have all been outstanding so far.
“I’ve been a starter all my career,” he said. … “It’s just one of those things where I feel thankful just to be able to pitch again. But obviously my heart’s (with) being a starter.”
