From the Wire … Cubs Ink Reed Johnson to Minor League Contract

January 12, 2011 By 30 Comments

According to multiple reports, the Cubs signed Reed Johnson to a minor league contract on Wednesday. The deal includes a non-roster invite to big league camp. Reed Johnson spent 2008 and 2009 with the Cubs before signing a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last year.

Johnson put together a .262/.291/.366/.657 line for the Dodgers in 2010.

Reed Johnson’s Page on Baseball-Reference

Johnson joins a list of seven players that have already signed minor league deals wih the Cubs for 2011 and received non-roster invitations to Spring Training … Pitchers: Angel Guzman and Scott Rice; Infielders: Bobby Scales, Scott Moore and Bryan LaHair; Outfielders: Brad Snyder and James Adduci


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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Richard-Hood/100000706523521 Richard Hood

    Isn’t it sad that a Reed Johnson minor league signing is now “big news” in the cubs idea of a rebuild. What is going to happen if Jackson is ready or another outfielder has stepped up? We need more depth on the corner infield and a everyday lead off man. And we get Reed Johnson………………………..again.

    • Patrick_Schaefer

      It’s just a minor league deal. I wish he could play some first base so he could platoon with Pena!

    • Gary J

      it’s not big news – it’s just news.

    • daverj

      It’s just a move for outfield depth. Not big news and certainly won’t block any young players that are ready to contribute.

  • cc002600

    I likey

  • Jeff

    Great, all we need to do now is bring back Paul Bako and Matt Clement and we’re set!

  • Jmill76

    I likey

    Never should have let him go

  • cubs1967

    no risk move……..just like max ramirez……..if he hits (and more likely to than fernando perez)………great platoon w/ colvin since fukunuts won’t be moved anytime soon unless P.K.McCaskey puts on his big boy britches and realizes Cubs will need to eat about 9.5M of his 13.5M to move him; good “small” move.

  • http://twitter.com/JMattWeaver Matt Weaver

    What’s to complain about? This is a solid big league move.

    He’s 34 on a minor league deal and if healthy has the talent to graciously fill a lot of needs for us.

    I like it.

  • Ripsnorter1

    Somebody had to take Sam Fuld’s place, and heaven forbid that it would be a young guy.

    • cubs1967

      young does not mean better……….and synder and adduci are invited to ST……both LH though.

      better to say heaven forbid not a good player…..like keeping koyie hill again……then just assume the player needs to be young.

      young does not equal good………..just a number.

      • Ripsnorter1

        You are correcto. But we do know the Johnson isn’t going to get better at this age, and perhaps a youngster might profit from a move to AAA . . . .that was my thinking.

        • Patrick_Schaefer

          Brad Snyder is a AAAA player he had the oppurtunity to sign with another team on a major league deal and nobody wanted him not the Royals/Pirates or anybody I like the guy but it is pretty telling what scouts must see in him that nobody would give him a major league deal. He strikes out a ton and has a big hole in his swing.
          Micah Hoffpauir
          Matt Camp
          Bobby Scales
          Jake Fox
          Bryan LaHair
          All AAAA players if they were good enough to play in the majors they would be playing in the Majors!

  • jw

    As long as he is healthy what is there not to like about Reed as a back-up/plug-in/pinch hitter…minor league invite is low risk

  • Patrick_Schaefer

    Fukudome’s contract is not immovable. Hard to move, but not impossible. I think he and Byrd could both go by the end of July depending on whether the Cubs are in contention or not. That would set up an outfield of Soriano, Jackson, Colvin, with Johnson and Perez off the bench.

    Right now, I think Reed Johnson starts the year in Iowa.

    • Patrick_Schaefer

      I wouldn’t be surprised to see him make the team though, I always liked Reed Johnson he plays the game the right way, makes productive outs( moves guys over tries for a base hit between 1st and 2nd at worst he moves the guy on 2nd to 3rd. Plays all out defense, good guy.

      • studio179

        Yeah, Johnson is a vet depth move, no risk. I agree on your Byrd and Fukudome thoughts. Not impossible to see both gone depending on the circumstances in July and how Jackson is doing this year.

  • Patrick_Schaefer

    Brad Snyder’s Lowest strike out% was last year in his minor league career at 26.2 %!!!!!! That is against AAA pitching in the majors he would just be outmatched he has a hole in his swing!!!!

    Bryan LaHair his best stike out% was Last year at 22.3%

    Micah Hoffpauir in his 3 season with the major league club his SO %
    2008 32.9%
    2009 19.7%
    2010 28.8%
    His minor league SO% are better than both Snyder and LaHair
    That is why they don’t PLAY in the Major Leagues

    • Patrick_Schaefer

      Marquez Smith Last Year at AAA 23.1%
      Aramis Ramirez Worst SO% in the Major since 1998 was Last Year at 19.4%

  • Patrick_Schaefer

    DJ LeMahieu Last year SO% 11.0
    He only had a 4.8% walk rate though but he doesn’t have a hole in his swing! That is why he is projectable at the ML level.

    • Tom U

      LeMahieu could also be one of this organization’s best clutch hitters, He drove in 73 runs, with only 2 home runs. Contrast that with Marquez Smith, who drove in 53 with 17 home runs. That means LeMahieu drove in 71 runners who where on base ahead of him, while Smith drove in only 36. LeMahieu’s RBI pace was better than one RBI every other game. Impressive, for someone who doesn’t hit for a lot of power.

  • nick_ss

    I like it, a good low risk move. Welcome back Reed. I will never forget the catch he made in Washington, that was great, I especially loved Woods reaction!

  • paulcatanese

    Does anyone think that Angel Guzman will not make a good showing in ST? If he is healthy and I hope he is he can really bring it. If he is,look for him during the year,and that would throw a monkey wrench into the whole situation. I would love it.You can never have too much pitching.

    • Ripsnorter1

      I loved Angel Guzman. Other MLB teams were saying that he ought to be the closer instead of Marmol. However Guzman’s injury was very severe, to such an extent that it is unlikely that Guzman will ever recover and pitch again in MLB. He had the surgery as a “I’ll try it and hope” that he could pitch again.

      So to answer your question: Guzman will not likely pitch in the majors again, let alone this ST.

      • Ripsnorter1

        If you wish to read about Angel Guzman’s injury, here is a link:

        http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/03/cubs-guzman-suffers-career-threatening-injury.html

        • Ripsnorter1

          He is invited to ST, but the talk is that he won’t be ready yet.
          Speculation**speculation says that they expect his velocity to be down from the idle time lost to the injury, and he will have to go down and build his arm back up–at least–before he can come back.

          I hope he makes it back with all the stuff he had before.

          • Suzy

            Rip…I also loved Guzman…and really hope things come together for him again…but as a realist…he’s probably done…either way…I wish him well.

          • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

            Suzy … great to hear from you!

          • paul catanese

            Rip,thank you very much for the info on Guzman. The news out here posts very little about the Cubs unless they are playing the Giants.As you doI hope he makes it back.Thanks again.

          • Ripsnorter1

            Paul & Suzy,
            I love the CCO and posters like you who keep the conversation about the Cubbies hot all “Hot Stove League” long. God bless ya’ll.