Kelly Johnson traded for Aaron Hill/McDonald

[bigken117]

So they want Johnson around for a while.

[Tavish]

They save money on the Hill buyout. They get an upgrade at 2B that will either a) accept arbitration and they have him cheap for 1 year when they need a 2B anyway or b) he declines and we get a pick or two. Seems like a win-win to me. They're not guaranteed picks but I think they're more than happy to be rid of Hill and his buyout, and gain a viable 2B option.

I guess it depends on how you want to apply the term "cheap". I wouldn't consider Johnson at $7m+ next season a win.

[Skin Blues]

Cheaper than Aaron Hill, and better than all the other FA options. Keep in mind that replacing Aaron Hill with a better player and being stuck with him at cheaper contract is the worst case scenario.

[Tavish]

Cheaper than Aaron Hill, and better than all the other FA options. Keep in mind that replacing Aaron Hill with a better player and being stuck with him at cheaper contract is the worst case scenario.

Being better and cheaper than Hill is of course relative. If they resign Johnson and he has even a modest bounceback next season then it is a very good trade for the Jays. If they don't sign him or he continues to regress next season then the move is pretty inconsequential as they traded an awful player that they weren't going to keep anyways for a slightly less awful player who they probably shouldn't have kept.

[mweir145]

The Jays have been targeting Kelly Johnson for years. I have little doubt that they acquired him with the intention of keeping him around in 2012. If he declines their arbitration offer and receives a long-term deal elsewhere (seems unlikely at this point, but the 2B pool is shallow), the Jays will still get picks out of him. Either way, it's another good trade.

[Skin Blues]

It's not earth-shattering obviously, but at least it addresses 2B for next year. Hech isn't anywhere close to being ready in 2012 and KJ is the best FA option at the only position the Jays need to address. If he declines arbitration, we take the 2 first round picks and go after Infante or somebody else. I don't think it can be understated about how bad Hill has sucked for the past 2 seasons. The only hitter that has been worse in the major leagues, at any position, is Alcides Escobar.

[bigh0rt]

The Jays have been targeting Kelly Johnson for years.

Was Riccardi targeting him? Cause Anthopoulos has been GM for less than two years.

[lastingsgriller]

I've always been a fan of huge Johnson

[Skin Blues]

The Jays have been targeting Kelly Johnson for years.

Was Riccardi targeting him? Cause Anthopoulos has been GM for less than two years.

This is AA's third year as GM and he was named Assistant to the General Manager (Dwight Schrute shout-out) 7 years ago.

[Tavish]

It's not earth-shattering obviously, but at least it addresses 2B for next year. Hech isn't anywhere close to being ready in 2012 and KJ is the best FA option at the only position the Jays need to address. If he declines arbitration, we take the 2 first round picks and go after Infante or somebody else. I don't think it can be understated about how bad Hill has sucked for the past 2 seasons. The only hitter that has been worse in the major leagues, at any position, is Alcides Escobar.

There is no doubt Hill is awful, but that didn't really matter moving forward since there was no way they picked up his option. I think of it more as a question as to whether Johnson is worth the arbitration award next year or not. I can't see him declining arbitration so I don't think the comp picks are a factor either. I'm just curious as to why you seem so happy to potentially paying Johnson $7m+ next year besides the "its not Hill" reason which wasn't going to be the case anyways.