The Oakland Athletics on Monday acquired right-handed reliever Jim Johnson from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for infielder Jemile Weeks, according to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal. The Orioles also received minor-league catcher David Freitas as a player to be named later in the deal, per MLB.com.
Athletics acquire P Jim Johnson from Orioles
The A’s spun the second-biggest trade of the day, landing the likely replacement for free-agent closer Grant Balfour.
Greg Fiume
Johnson fills the hole left in the Athletics' bullpen by the departure of free-agent closer Grant Balfour, who converted 38 out of 41 save attempts in 2013. Johnson is coming off of back-to-back seasons with at least 50 saves despite not having the profile of a traditional closer; the 30-year-old native of New York has struck out a mere 6.3 batters per nine innings over the past two years.
Johnson is entering his final season before hitting free-agency and is expected to make $10.8 million in 2014, according to MLB Trade Rumors’ projected arbitration salaries.
Weeks, 26, appeared in only eight games for Oakland in 2013 and notched one hit in nine plate appearances. He spent most of the season at Triple-A Sacramento, where he hit .271/.376/.369 in 614 plate appearances spanning 130 games.
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