Johnson Gets A Second Chance

12/30/2009 6:41 AM -  Fred Zinkie

December 30, 2009
By: Fred Zinkie

Arizona has taken a chance on Kelly Johnson for the 2010 season.  It’s a low risk investment for the Diamondbacks and it gives Johnson a chance to get his career back on track in a hitter’s park.  But, the move affects more Diamondbacks than just Johnson for 2010.

Kelly Johnson – He looked like one of the safest 2B options entering the 2009 season.  He had just posted two solid seasons in a row, was at a prime age and seemed like a virtual lock for about 15-10-.280.  A few months later, he was one of the bigger draft busts of 2009.  Johnson is only 27 and is still plenty young enough to turn things around.  Arizona’s home park will be the perfect venue for him to get his career back on track.  Now, there is just one more hurdle – he needs to earn the starting job during spring training.  He will be the favorite, but certainly not a lock.  He makes a fine sleeper pick if he is hitting well in the middle of March.

Ryan Roberts – He was a solid second baseman for the second half of 2009 and before this signing he was another late-round sleeper 2B option for 2010.  He could post double digit home runs and steals over a full season.  Unfortunately he probably won’t get that chance now.  He will have to beat Johnson out during spring training.  The Diamondbacks know what they have in Roberts and if they were satisfied with him they wouldn’t have signed Johnson.  Roberts no longer belongs on mixed league draft lists and is only a late-round sleeper pick in NL-Only leagues.

Augie Ojeda – Even though he is a worse hitter than Johnson and Roberts, he is the player who is most likely to be on the team.  His ability to play 2B, SS and 3B means that he will be the utility man around the infield.  But, if Johnson wins the job and Roberts goes back to Triple-A, Ojeda won’t get significant 2B at-bats even in the event of an injury.  He isn’t even worth an NL-Only pick.