Atomic RoadRunners

FAAB Acquisitions:

• RP Joel Hanrahan, Pirates ($0 FAAB) – Add to Actives

Up:

• 3B Chase Headley
• RP Drew Storen
• SP Randy Wells

Down:

• 3B Casey Blake
• RP Sam Demel
• SP Chris Volstad
• SP John Ely

Cut:

• SS Danny Espinosa

Notes:

• No other bidders on Hanrahan, who joins the Roadrunners for the first time in his career, though he was tracked from Los Angeles to Washington and now to Pittsburgh. He’s a hedge for saves, with the expectation that Pirates closer Octavio Dotel will be dealt in the coming weeks.
• Update (7/7): The Marlins demoted Chris Volstad to AAA New Orleans after Tuesday night’s rough start.
• All-Star Teams were announced this weekend, and the Roadrunners have six on the roster.
  • SP Josh Johnson
  • 2B Brandon Phillips
  • SS Troy Tulowitzki (injured, will not participate)
  • UT Omar Infante (really? This selection universally panned)
  • OF Marlon Byrd
  • OF Matt Holliday

Josh Johnson fired eight shutout innings on Thursday as the Marlins topped the Phillies 2-0. Johnson improved to 7-3 on the year while out-dueling the best pitcher in the National League: Roy Halladay. He struck out five batters and allowed only one hit while keeping a talented Phillies lineup to three hits. Leo Nunez earned his 13th save of the season with a nearly spotless ninth inning. (Rotoworld)

Tyler Clippard struck out a pair of batters in a scoreless ninth inning to notch the first save of his career on Thursday. Matt Capps has been used heavily lately, so Clippard was given the opportunity to close it out on Thursday. It’s interesting to note that prized rookie Drew Storen did not get the ball in the ninth inning, but rather Clippard. (Rotowire)

Jose Tabata (hamstring) was back in the Pirates’ lineup Thursday. Tabata collected his first career RBI with an opposite field double against Livan Hernandez Thursday night. Tabata hustled on his double and ran hard down the first base line on an infield groundout. It looks like the Bucs dodged a bullet with Tabata, but the promising rookie has dealt with a history of hamstring injuries throughout his minor league career. The rookie was lifted from Wednesday’s game with a cramp, but clearly it was just a precautionary measure. Tabata hit .308/.373/.423 for Triple-A Indianapolis before getting promoted to the big leagues earlier this week and is expected to bring a spark to the Pirates’ starting lineup. (Rotowire)

Madison Bumgarner has been fined and suspended three games for his actions in a Triple-A game on Monday. Bumgarner melted down after a runner was called safe after a pickoff attempt at first base. With Todd Wellemeyer likely headed to the disabled list before his next start, this could make Bumgarner less likely to be called up to take his place. Still, his suspension, which will cost him a start in Triple-A, keeps him eligible to be join the Giants before Wellemeyer’s next scheduled start. (Rotoworld)

Brandon Phillips went 4-for-5 with a two-run triple as part of an eighth-inning rally in the Reds’ 7-6 win over the Giants on Thursday. After Phillips’ triple tied the game at six, Joey Votto singled the second baseman in for the go-ahead run. Phillips had his big game while hitting leadoff for the first time since April 13, 2007 and just the 12th time in his career. He’s actually done quite well in those games, hitting .280 with three homers, seven RBI, nine runs scored and six walks. (Rotoworld)

Mat Latos allowed two runs and two hits over six innings Thursday as the Padres beat the Mets 4-2 in the first game of a doubleheader. He struck out eight in outdueling Johan Santana. Latos retired the final 13 batters he faced, but the Padres still chose to take him out after 99 pitches. Of course, that was an easier call with their bullpen. Luke Gregerson, Mike Adams and Heath Bell all pitched perfect innings after Latos left. He improved to 6-4 with the victory, bouncing back from a shaky outing against the Phillies in his last road start. Earlier this season, it looked like Latos would have to be streamed for his home starts, but he’s looking like a viable option even in shallow mixed leagues for most of his matchups thanks to a 64:20 K:BB ratio in 72.1 innings. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

Josh Johnson bounced back from a couple of shaky outings, striking out 10 over six strong innings on Thursday. Johnson allowed just one run and five hits to earn the win. Johnson wasn’t his usual self in his first two starts, failing to post numbers anything close to a staff ace. Even though Johnson has struggled in two of three starts, he does have a healthy total of 20 strikeouts in 16 innings. Good times had by all this evening in the Marlins’ dugout. Johnson struck out 10 batters and allowed just one walk. Cameron Maybin hit his first dinger of the season. And Jorge Cantu collected his 15th RBI in 10 games. The Marlins are proving dangerous at 6-4 and Johnson showed tonight why many believe he can be one of the more dominant pitchers in the National League. Johnson fell one strikeout short of tying a career high. The only run Johnson allowed came in the third when Orlando Cabrera doubled home Chris Dickerson. This is the Johnson that Fantasy owners are used to seeing with an absolute dominant performance on Thursday. He matched his strikeout totals from his first two games in his start against the Reds. Johnson is a solid start for Fantasy Week 3 (April 19-25), as he takes on the Houston Astros on Wednesday. Johnson was 0-1 with a 8.31 ERA in one start against Houston last season. (Rotoworld, Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Josh Johnson allowed three runs on eight hits in five innings in a no-decision against the Mets Saturday. This was his second start to only last five innings, but at least he struck out seven batters in this one. Johnson has given up 13 hits and 7 earned runs over 10 innings in two starts. “It’s consistency. It’s there, and then it’s not,” Johnson explained. “It’s not what you want, but you’ve got to deal with it.” He got 60 of his 94 pitches over for strikes, but fantasy owners (and the Marlins owners) have probably been expecting more thus far. Johnson hasn’t looked like himself to start the season, posting a 6.30 ERA. But on the bright side, he has struck out 10 batters in 10 innings. Stick with him, he’s a high-end No. 2/low-end No. 1 Fantasy starter. His next start comes Thursday at home against Cincinnati. He’s 2-4 with a 5.33 ERA in his career against the Reds. (Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Josh Johnson allowed four runs over five innings Monday in a loss to the Mets. Johnson seemed behind this spring even before a bout with the flu cost him a start. He’s supposed to be fine physically, but it may take him another few weeks to get up to speed. Fantasy leaguers should keep using him and hope for the best in the meantime. Johnson was beat up by the Mets in his final spring start, so this wasn’t a complete shock. It is a questionable decision to allow the ace to pitch against the Mets, so close to his opening-day start. Johnson should prove much more effective in his second start against the Dodgers and be a solid option for all formats for Fantasy Week 2. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Josh Johnson, who is getting over a case of the flu, gave up three runs in 4 2/3 innings Wednesday against the Mets. All of the runs came on solo homers. Johnson struck out five and walked none in the game. While he isn’t where he’d like to be headed into Opening Day, it’s highly unlikely that the Marlins will push back his season debut. (Rotoworld)

Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald writes that “all systems are go” for Josh Johnson (flu) and his scheduled Opening Day start. Johnson was forced to sit idly all weekend due to a bout with the flu and some questioned whether he would have enough time to get warmed up for the opener. He’s scheduled to throw a bullpen session Monday and may appear in a spring game on Wednesday. If both tasks are accomplished, it’s safe to guess that he will take the mound on April 5 against the Mets. Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez suggested Monday that Josh Johnson could miss his Opening Day start due to a bout with the flu. Johnson has been out since the middle of last week. “If it takes him three days [to get better] like it’s done everybody else, we may have to do something there [with the rotation to start the season],” Gonzalez said Monday. Ricky Nolasco would probably be asked to fill in. (Rotoworld)

Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez is confident that Josh Johnson (flu) will be able to make his next scheduled start on Wednesday. Johnson was scratched from Friday’s start due to flu-like symptoms. Originally the Marlins intended to avoid starting Johnson on Wednesday against the Mets, because it is only five days before he’ll face the same team in the season opener. However, because he is now one start behind, he’ll face the Mets anyway instead of pitching in a minor league game. “If he can get his next start … then he is OK,” Gonzalez said of Johnson’s chances of being ready for Opening Day. Johnson is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Sunday. (Rotoworld)

Josh Johnson feels that he’s not at 100 percent just yet, the Palm Beach Post reports. Asked if he felt ready for Opening Day, Johnson said, “not really. I’m definitely going to need these last starts.” Johnson will get the ball on Opening Day either way, so expect him to work hard to tighten things up over the final couple weeks of spring training. (Rotowire)

Josh Johnson had his first bad outing of the spring, allowing four runs on five hits in three innings of work Tuesday. His focus may have been off after being rung up for two balk calls by home plate umpire Joe West, after MLB decided to change the rules on pitchers going to their mouths while off the mound without really telling anyone. Johnson should be more than fine for the start of the regular season. (Rotowire)

Josh Johnson struck out four in three scoreless innings Thursday versus the Cardinals. Johnson gave up a couple of runs and a homer in his first start, also versus St. Louis, but he was sharp today. He allowed just one hit and walked none. Johnson’s second outing of the spring was a gem, as he threw three scoreless innings and struck out four. Three of those strikeouts came in the first inning. With his fastball reaching 94 mph according to the reports, Johnson already appears to be in midseason form. (Rotowire)

Minor League Ball’s John Sickels recently did a “Prospect Retro“-spective feature on Josh Johnson:

Josh Johnson was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the fourth round of the 2002 draft, out of high school in Jenks, Oklahoma. Tall and projectable at 6-7, 215, he was erratic in high school, throwing 90-92 MPH at his best, but sometimes working in just the 85-87 range. He also needed to improve his breaking ball and changeup. Considered a first-round talent six months before the draft, his stock dropped due to an erratic spring and a University of Oklahoma scholarship. He signed late and got into just 15 innings in the Gulf Coast League, posting an 11/3 K/BB with a 0.60 ERA. I didn’t put him in the 2003 book, but if I had I would have rated him a Grade C prospect.

The Marlins ignored my advice and Johnson spent all of 2006 in the majors, pitching very well, going 12-7, 3.10 with a 133/68 K/BB in 157 innings, 136 hits allowed, a very successful rookie campaign. However, the injury bug struck in 2007. Although it was the shoulder that bothered him in the minors, in ’07 his elbow gave out, necessitating Tommy John surgery. He came back extremely quickly in 2008 and went 7-1, 3.61 with a 77/27 K/BB in 87 innings. As you know, last year he went 15-5, 3.23 with a 191/58 K/BB in 209 innings, allowing 184 hits. Last year’s performance was better than anything he’d done in the minors, and it earned him a fat contract this off-season.

Johnson throws harder now: 92-98 last year according to fangraphs, averaging almost 95 MPH. This is about eight MPH harder than he threw in the lower minors, making him a textbook example of a “projectable” pitcher gaining velocity as he matures physically. His slider is his main second pitch; he uses his changeup a bit less than five percent of the time. Fangraphs rates all of his pitches as above average, and he picks up a lot of grounders to go with the strong strikeout rate.

My main concern for Johnson going forward is the possibility that the shoulder problems he had in the minors may recur. If he avoids injury and gets proper support from teammates, Johnson has the ability to be a Cy Young contender in the coming years along with Ubaldo Jimenez. Not bad for a guy who never really dominated in the minors. This is another example of how Grade C pitching prospects at the lower levels can sometimes develop into something very interesting.

With protected rosters due in seven days, it’s time to review the options for the 2010 Roadrunners. As I did the past two seasons, I’ve broken the list into five groups:

• The No Doubters
• The Almost Automatics
• The Probables
• The Fringe
• Not So Much

These should be self-explanatory. First up, the No Doubters:

Prince Fielder
2 Years – $29
.299 Average, 103 Runs, 46 HR, 141 RBI, and 2 steals
Fielder was acquired mid-season in a trade with Get Off Kong!, and thus re-joined the Atomic Roadrunners for his sixth overall season, which is impressive, since he’s only 25 years old. After a power dip in 2008 due (possibly) to a vegetarian diet, the homers (and everything else) returned. Signed to a relatively modest $29 contract, he should again earn his keep in 2010.

Josh Johnson
1 Year – $5
15 Wins, 3.23 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 191 K’s
Johnson, who just signed a four-year, $39 million contract extension, was touted early on as a Cy Young dark horse, though that would be tough in Florida. He had a lot of innings (209) coming back from Tommy John surgery in 2008, but was pretty solid, though he did have a few clunkers that damaged his ERA a bit down the stretch. A potential ace worthy of protection for $5.

Clayton Kershaw
1 Year – $9
8 Wins, 2.79 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 185 K’s
Picked up mid-season in a trade with Misogynistic Padres, the 21-year old Kershaw found himself as de-facto staff ace for the Dodgers entering the post-season. He did relatively well, without major flame-outs, but he was gassed after a long season. The toll manager Joe Torre placed on his young arm is worrysome, but Kershaw should definitely deliver $9 worth of value, especially since all reports indicate he’s still improving.

Marlins signed RHP Josh Johnson to a four-year, $39 million contract. Johnson’s future in Florida was in doubt after the two sides reached an impasse with negotiations in November, but coincidental or not, they made considerable progress after MLB and the MLBPA singled out the Marlins for not spending enough of their revenue-sharing money on player payroll. The new contract buys out Johnson’s final two years of arbitration and his first two years of free agency. Johnson, who turns 26 later this month, will earn $3.75 million in 2010, $7.75 million in 2011 and $13.75 million in In 2012 and 2013. Johnson has quickly emerged as one of the National League’s best starters since his return from Tommy John surgery, going 15-5 with a 3.23 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 191 strikeouts in 209 innings with the Marlins last season. (Rotoworld)

Just two days after the MLB, the MLBPA, reached an agreement with the Florida Marlins that they would increase MLB player payroll after the union for the players believed them to not be spending revenue-sharing dollars the manner the current CBA defines it, they broke out the wallet.

According to ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick, the Marlins have signed pitcher Josh Johnson to a guaranteed $39 million contract that will keep the player wrapped up with the Marlins through 2013.

In a sign that the contract is tied to the opening of the new ballpark for the Marlins, something outlined in the agreement with MLB and the MLBPA, Johnson’s contract is heavily backloaded. As reported by Crasnick:

The deal will pay Johnson $3.75 million this season, $7.75 million in 2011 and $13.75 million in each of the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

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Johnson’s contract is the second-biggest ever for a pitcher heading into his second salary arbitration. The only bigger deal was signed by Johan Santana, who agreed to a four-year, $40 million contract with Minnesota in February 2005 after winning the Cy Young Award.

Johnson made $1.4 million last year. His $3.75 million salary for 2010 is an increase of 168 percent. To add to the deal, he sees an increase of 107 percent from this season to 2011 and an 83 percent increase from 2011 to 2012 when his salary levels off for the 2013.

As further reported by Crasnick, the jumping off point for the near recording-setting salary arb deal, was Zack Greinke’s four-year, $38 million contract with Kansas City, while the Marlins countered with a reported three-year, $23 million offer.

With the salary arbitration filing period ending tomorrow, the Marlins have six players left that are salary arbitration eligible, Jorge Cantu, Leo Nunez, Renyel Pinto, Cody Ross, Anibal Sanchez, and Dan Uggla. Uggla will be a key player to deal with in the salary arbitration process. Last year, the Marlins and the top-tier second baseman went all the way to salary arbitration hearing, where Uggla won his $5.35 million asking figure to the Marlins $4.4 million offering figure.

As of Thursday – the day before the salary arbitration filing period ends – there were 133 players still salary arbitration eligible. See The Biz of Baseball’s salary arbitration tracker for details.