The Braves are bringing back versatile veteran Kelly Johnson, who agreed to terms Wednesday on a one-year, $2 million contract, a person familiar with the situation said. The deal was pending a physical.
Johnson, who’ll be 34 in February, hit .265 with 14 home runs in 335 plate appearances last season with the Braves and Mets, including 13 homers in 300 PAs against right-handers.
The left-handed hitter can play all four infield positions and the corner outfield positions, and could get plenty of playing time at third base with the Braves, perhaps in a platoon with Adonis Garcia. Johnson’s contract also includes up to $1.25 million in additional incentives he could earn in 2016.
Johnson hit .275 with nine homers, a .321 on-base percentage and 34 RBIs in 62 games (197 PAs) with the Braves in 2015 before being traded along with third baseman Juan Uribe to the Mets in late July for two pitching prospects. The Braves wanted him back for his left-handed bat and versatility along with the leadership he demonstrated last season.
Johnson and Uribe were credited for helping boost the Mets in their playoff drive, and Johnson played in nine postseason games for the National League champions, going 1-for-9 at the plate.
This will be the third career stint with the Braves for Johnson, a 10-year veteran and Texas native who has made his permanent home in Atlanta since coming up with the team.
The Braves selected him with the 38th overall pick in the 2000 free-agent draft. He reached the majors in 2005 as one of the most heralded “Baby Braves” on a rookie-laden team, along with Brian McCann and Jeff Francoeur. Johnson played his first four seasons with the Braves.
He has a .251 career average with 145 home runs and 516 RBIs in just over 4,800 plate appearances, with a .331 OBP and .424 slugging percentage (.755 OPS).
Johnson’s had six seasons with 16 or more homers, most recently in 2013 when he batted .235 with 16 homers in 407 plate appearances with Tampa Bay.
In his first full season in 2006, he hit .276 with 52 extra-base hits (16 homers) in 147 games. In 2008, Johnson hit a career-high .287 with 57 extra-base hits including 39 doubles, which also remains a career best.
His finest season came with Arizona in 2010, when he collected 67 extra-base hits including a career-high 26 homers while batting .284 with an .865 OPS in 154 games.
