Kelly Johnson traded for Aaron Hill/McDonald

[DbacksRback]

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/68888 ... n-mcdonald

PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks have traded second baseman Kelly Johnson to the Toronto Blue Jays for infielders Aaron Hill and John McDonald

[bigh0rt]

Could potentially be a good thing for both Hill, moving to a nice hitter's park, changing leagues, as well as Johnson, if he gels well with the Toronto lineup. I'd love to read literally anything that is less anecdotal than that about this trade.

[Tavish]

Fairly even trade that should work out well for both teams since both Hill and Johnson will be able to continue to wear #2.

[SpecialFNK]

what are they like defensively?
offensively they seem like the same player. power, low AVG, and some speed.

would the Jays be hoping to resign Johnson after the season? because he can be a free agent.

Hill has this contract details.
http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/0 ... ys_05.html

# 4 years/$12M (2008-11), plus 2012-14 club options
* signed extension with Toronto 4/4/08, replacing 1 year/$0.41M deal for 2008 signed 3/08
* 08:$0.41M, 09:$2.59M, 10:$4M, 11:$5M, 12:$8M club option, 13:$8M club option, 14:$10M club option
* club may decide to exercise all 3 options before 2011 season
* after 2011 season, club may exercise only 2012 and 2013 options

shouldn't the Jays have been able to get something else with Johnson? Hill and McDonald for Johnson.
if Hill can bounce back and the Jays do not resign Johnson, looks like the Jays could losing this one.

[GiantsFan14]

what are they like defensively?
offensively they seem like the same player. power, low AVG, and some speed.

would the Jays be hoping to resign Johnson after the season? because he can be a free agent.

Hill has this contract details.
http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/0 ... ys_05.html

# 4 years/$12M (2008-11), plus 2012-14 club options
* signed extension with Toronto 4/4/08, replacing 1 year/$0.41M deal for 2008 signed 3/08
* 08:$0.41M, 09:$2.59M, 10:$4M, 11:$5M, 12:$8M club option, 13:$8M club option, 14:$10M club option
* club may decide to exercise all 3 options before 2011 season
* after 2011 season, club may exercise only 2012 and 2013 options

shouldn't the Jays have been able to get something else with Johnson? Hill and McDonald for Johnson.
if Hill can bounce back and the Jays do not resign Johnson, looks like the Jays could losing this one.

they save the $1MM buyout on hill's $8MM as there pretty much no way they were exercising that option. they can also offer johnson (who is very, very close to being type A) arbitration after the season thus netting them a draft pick or two. seems like the jays won to me.

[mweir145]

I'm really not understanding the Arizona perspective. They traded something of value (Kelly Johnson or the draft pick he'll provide for the Jays) for nothing (Hill and McDonald are awful).

Not sure how AA convinces these people to do these deals (Jedi Mind tricks perhaps), but I like it.

[kab21]

shouldn't the Jays have been able to get something else with Johnson? Hill and McDonald for Johnson.
if Hill can bounce back and the Jays do not resign Johnson, looks like the Jays could losing this one.

Are you talking about John McDonald or Ronald McDonald? He carries almost zero value.

If there's no money being exchanged then the Jays save money on this deal. The DBacks took on a slightly larger contract and the option buyout. There is also the potential that KJ could net some draft picks but if he does get Type A FA status then he almost has to accept arb because teams won't give up a pick for him. so I wouldn't count on draft picks in this trade.

I'll call it a draw.

[GiantsFan14]

if he accepts arbitration then they still get a solid 2B at a decent price on a one year deal (if they don't just extend him). it's a pretty weak free agent class for MIs so worse things could happen for the jays. on the other hand, hill was just dead money and had no value whatsoever.

[mweir145]

shouldn't the Jays have been able to get something else with Johnson? Hill and McDonald for Johnson.
if Hill can bounce back and the Jays do not resign Johnson, looks like the Jays could losing this one.

Are you talking about John McDonald or Ronald McDonald? He carries almost zero value.

If there's no money being exchanged then the Jays save money on this deal. The DBacks took on a slightly larger contract and the option buyout. There is also the potential that KJ could net some draft picks but if he does get Type A FA status then he almost has to accept arb because teams won't give up a pick for him. so I wouldn't count on draft picks in this trade.

I'll call it a draw.

Still not seeing any benefit at all here for Arizona. Kelly Johnson would be worth the money for the Jays if he accepts arbitration (7.5 fWAR over the last two seasons, compared to Hill's awful 0.7).

[mweir145]

if he accepts arbitration then they still get a solid 2B at a decent price on a one year deal (if they don't just extend him). it's a pretty weak free agent class for MIs so worse things could happen for the jays. on the other hand, hill was just dead money and had no value whatsoever.

I think a lot of people don't realize just how bad Aaron Hill is these days.