UPDATE-There have been multiple reports of the Marlins backtracking from yesterday’s John Perotto Tweet that they were “very willing” to deal the star Right hander. First came John Frisaro’s Tweet (see below) from last night, then Buster Onley’s story this morning saying he spoke to multiple GMs and nobody confirmed the story.
Now Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has the most definitive squashing of the report. In the piece he says that he’s heard from two sources who he says are close to the situation that the Marlins have no intention whatsoever of dealing their star pitcher before Opening Day 2010. It makes sense, Johnson is still not making much money and they’re heading into a new ballpark.
Just came down on John Perotto’s Twitter, the Florida Marlins Right hander is officially on the trade market. He writes:
Keep hearing #Marlins are very willing to trade Josh Johnson right now for the right package.
This could impact the Halladay sweepstakes, with another much younger high-upside arm being available at the same time. The loser of the Halladay sweepstakes could be the lead horse for Johnson, depending on what Florida needs. Johnson has 2 more years of team control before hitting free agency.
Lets go a step further with this, on the heels of today’s Halladay news. Lets say Montero+ package gets you Halladay, but a Montero+Joba/Hughes is needed to land Johnson. Which one you go for?
EDIT-Now Joe Frisaro has Tweeted that he’s not hearing the same things that Perotto is. Here’s his quote:
There is going to be plenty of speculation about Josh Johnson being trade bait. From what I’m hearing, don’t buy into it.
Could be the first report is erroneous, or that the Marlins don’t want to look too anxious to deal him. Decide for yourself, but my guess is he’s still on the market.
Related posts:
From what Jon Heyman was saying today the Blue Jays are asking for Montero+ Hughes or Joba already so there is no difference…
To me no way! If Montero’s bat develops at any position to 35+ HRs and Hughes or Joba become 3 or 4 starters the price is already to much and if any of the throw in prospects become something you gave away way to much!
If it takes Montero+Joba/Hughes for Halladay and it costs more for Johnson what do you do?
I say stay away from all Montero trades and focus on a middle of the rotation pitcher in trades instead of an ace we don’t need. The other Chris H(Quote)
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Steve S. Reply:
November 27th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Montero+ Hughes or Joba will get me Josh Johnson, so I’ll take the younger pitcher. Let Halladay go to Boston. Steve S.(Quote)
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The other Chris H Reply:
November 27th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
I don’t want Halladay for any price so that’s not my point… My point is why trade for Josh Johnson? We don’t need him to win a world series obviously and he has a history of injury problems and this was the first year in his career he pitched 200 innings.
Why trade Montero and anyone for Johnson… I might consider Hughes and Joba for Felix Hernandez but with Johnson I wouldn’t trade more than Joba or Hughes+. The other Chris H(Quote)
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Steve Reply:
November 27th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Not sure where you’re getting the ‘injury history’ from. He’s pitched 150+ innings 3 times since 05. He missed one season with Tommy John, but that’s no big deal these days. Other than that, there’s nothing else that I’m aware of.
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/J/Josh-Johnson-1.shtml Steve(Quote)
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The other Chris H Reply:
November 27th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
3 times? You and me must count different.
2005- 12.1 IP
2006- 157.0 IP
2007- 15.2 IP
2008- 87.1 IP
2009- 209.0 IP
That is 481 IP in 5 seasons…
To me that is 2 times since 2005 and he has only been in the bigs since 2005 so he has one season with 150 IP and one with 200 IP other than that short seasons.
How can you guarantee he can pitch 200 innings next year when he has done it once in 5 years? The other Chris H(Quote)
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The other Chris H Reply:
November 27th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
I’m not saying he can’t do it but when you consider that he has pitched 200 innings in his career once and would be going from the NL East to the AL East where he has absolutley no experience and the parks are smaller and the lineups are better.
He’s a good pitcher but is he really worth Montero+Hughes and prospects? I really don’t think so!
Also I consider any injury that has happened in the past “history” which makes it an “injury history”. The other Chris H(Quote)
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Steve S. Reply:
November 27th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
2005-153 IP
2006-157 IP
2007-37.1 IP
2008-116.2 IP
2009-209 IP
Multiple levels in the same year. Innings in the minors count. Steve S.(Quote)
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The other Chris H Reply:
November 27th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Except I don’t count the minors…! Am I wrong because I don’t do it your way?
Minor league innings aren’t near as stressful, don’t carry the competition of major league innings and they don’t actually count to anything! That’s like me counting someones minor league Ks as major league record for strikeouts. The other Chris H(Quote)
Yeah but you’re essentially saying that Clayton Kershaw is an injury risk because he’s only pitched more than 108 innings once in his major league career (minors don’t count you say). In this case, you are wrong because innings in the majors are definitely more stressful but you have to build a guys stamina in the minors. Chip(Quote)
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I said it at RAB, so I might as well say it again here, but I don’t see the Marlins really being interested in Hughes or Joba. They just don’t fit with Florida’s needs or style, especially since they’re both close to arbitration.
I think you’re looking at Montero, Jackson, McAllister, and IPK/Nova to get Johnson. Brien Jackson(Quote)
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Josh Johnson would be an excellent pickup. You can’t include Montero in any trade right now because he is the heir to the Posada throne and will be their catcher for the next series of dynasties. Joba does not impress me anymore. I think if you package Joba with either Ian Kennedy or Zach McAllister and one lesser position player such as Austin Romine, you could definitely pry away Johnson. For those of you who haven’t seen this guy pitch, watch the highlights… he is nasty and he’s much younger than Roy Halladay. The Marlins know how to develop talent (AJ Burnett, Josh Beckett, etc.). JJ is the real deal in any league and he’s only gonna get better. Doug(Quote)
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Mark Da Rosa Reply:
November 30th, 2009 at 2:42 am
Burnett was traded to the Marlins by the Mets for Al Leiter I believe. Mark Da Rosa(Quote)
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