The Oakland Athletics and newly acquired relief pitcher Jim Johnson avoided arbitration by agreeing on a one-year deal, the team announced on Thursday. The 30-year-old closer will earn $10 million in 2014, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
MLB roundup: Jim Johnson, Kyle Kendrick and 5 others avoid arbitration
The A’s and Jim Johnson agreed to a one-year deal, Kyle Kendrick got in excess of $7 million from the Phillies, and the Rockies and Royals each made a minor-league signing.
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Johnson was acquired by the A's from the Orioles on Dec. 2 in exchange for Jemile Weeks and a player to be named later, which turned out to be David Freitas. He'll assume the back-end-bullpen duties vacated by Grant Balfour, who oddly enough, was close to signing with the Orioles as a free-agent earlier this offseason until a failed physical derailed the process.
Johnson is coming off of consecutive 50-plus-save seasons in Baltimore, where he posted a 3.11 ERA with 6.0 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in parts of eight seasons. He will be a free agent following the 2014 campaign.
The A's still have five players -- Brandon Moss, Craig Gentry, Jed Lowrie, Josh Reddick and Luke Gregerson -- in arbitration limbo, per MLB Trade Rumors' tracker.
More players avoid arbitration
Kyle Kendrick, Bud Norris and Tim Collins also avoided arbitration with their clubs on Thursday, according to team press releases. Kendrick's salary will be the highest of the four, coming in at $7.675 million, per the Phillies' Twitter account.
Norris will earn $5.3 million from the Orioles, notes Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun, while Collins will receive $1.36 million from the Royals per Joel Sherman.
The teams have yet to make it official, but the Pirates and Travis Snider also came to an agreement on a one-year deal, as did the Mets and Eric Young Jr., reports Sherman. Snider will make $1.2 million in 2014, while Young is set to receive $1.85 million.
Last but not least, the Padres avoided arbitration with Tyson Ross, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. Ross will earn $1.98 million in his second season in San Diego.
Kansas City signs Guillermo Mota
The Royals and veteran reliever Guillermo Mota agreed to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training, the team announced in a press release on Thursday.
More from Royals Review: Introducing Guillermo Mota
Mota, 40, last pitched in the majors in 2012 for the Giants. He posted a 5.23 ERA in 20⅔ innings but struck out a career-high 10.5 batters per nine innings. Mota's 743 relief appearances are fifth-most in MLB since 1999, when the right-hander began his big-league career with the Montreal Expos.
Colorado agrees to deal with Michael McKenry
The Rockies signed former Pirates catcher Michael McKenry on Thursday to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training, according to a team press release.
More from Purple Row: Rockies reunite with an old friend
McKenry, who will be 29 on Opening Day, hit .217/.262/.348 for Pittsburgh in 2013. Thanks to the presence of Russell Martin, he was limited to 122 plate appearances a year after posting a slug-heavy 109 OPS+ in 275 trips to the plate in 2012.
Colorado selected McKenry in the seventh round of the 2006 draft. He made his MLB debut with the team in 2010 before being dealt to the Red Sox following the conclusion of that season.
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