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The Chicago Cubs are in desperate need of hitters that can hit lefties at a decent clip.
The lineup doesn’t have many threats against southpaws, so the Cubs might need to sign a free agent to solve that issue and in that sense, one that would be a great fit is the outfielder Reed Johnson.
Johnson was officially given a $150K buyout from the Atlanta Braves and he will become a free agent. Due to his solid and rare set of skills that he brings to the table, it wouldn’t be strange to see a lot suitors knocking on his door.
The 36-year-old batted only .244/.311/.341 for the Braves this past season, but his numbers are considerably better against lefties, where he had a .291/.328/.345 slash line. He can also provide solid defense at the three outfield positions, so he might have a shot of making a roster with the right organization.
Although signing him wouldn’t be for more than a bench spot, Johnson would be a solid free agent signing for this offseason. He’s been with the organization before and he knows what it’s like being a Cub, so he could even mentor the younger players who should start arriving from the minors this next season.
If signed, Johnson would return to the Cubs because he was traded in 2012 together with Paul Maholm on the deal that brought Aroldys Vizcaino to Chicago. This signing would be a cheap, solid move toward the Cubs’ quest to respectability.
Which is exactly the kind of move this organization needs.
Juan Pablo Aravena is a sports writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @jparavenarant or add him to your network on Google.
