NewsExtension unlikely for Marlins ace
Talks hit 'impasse' as club balks at four years for Johnson
By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com
11/21/09 2:16 PM EST
It turns out the Marlins and Josh Johnson will not come to terms on a long-term extension this offseason.
And because of that, the promising right-hander's days in South Florida could be numbered.
Johnson's agent, Matt Sosnick, told several media outlets on Friday night that negotiations between he and the Marlins on a long-term deal have been put to rest, and the right-hander expects to play under a one-year contract in 2010 instead.
Sosnick said he wanted a four-year deal for Johnson, but the Marlins were only able to go as far as three.
"Based on our conversations, there's no chance of doing a long-term deal with the Marlins," Sosnick told ESPN.com, which first reported the story. "We made it clear that it was going to be this year or it wasn't going to happen. It was now or never. And the Marlins agreed."
If that's the case, there's a chance the upcoming season could be Johnson's last in Florida.
The 25-year-old is once again arbitration-eligible this offseason, and based on his All-Star-worthy performance in '09, he could see his salary jump from $1.4 million to $4 million for next year.
One more payroll hike like that next season, and he could be over-budget for the Marlins, who may decide to trade Johnson before he hits the open market so they can at least get value for him.
Sosnick, who expressed that he wanted to give the Marlins a hometown discount, reportedly wanted a four-year deal worth about $40 million -- similar to what Royals ace Zack Greinke got in January -- but that was apparently too much for the low-budget Marlins.
Sosnick said he feels his client falls into the group of pitchers that could ink a $100 million contract in free agency, and he was quoted by The South Florida Sun-Sentinel as saying, "This is his last year [with the Marlins] for sure."
But he also told The Miami Herald, "I don't know if things are totally done, hopefully not. But it is one of those business things in baseball that you kind of don't want to have to go through."
Sosnick did not return calls from MLB.com, and under club policy, the Marlins don't comment on contract negotiations.
Johnson, who underwent Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery in '07, has gone 22-6 with a 3.34 ERA in 47 starts the past two years since coming back. This season, he broke out, going 15-5 with a 3.23 ERA in 33 starts while striking out 191 batters in 209 innings.
Selected in the fourth round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Johnson sports a 34-16 career record with a 3.40 ERA in five seasons in the big leagues.
The Marlins already have shortstop Hanley Ramirez signed through 2014, and they hoped to go into their new stadium in 2012 with their ace pitcher locked up, too.
But Florida's front office has always been hesitant to give pitchers long-term deals, and Johnson -- like Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett before him -- apparently could fall in line with that, too.
"Josh made it clear that his first choice was to sign a deal and stay with the Marlins," Sosnick told ESPN.com. "He loves the Marlins and he loves Florida. We were willing to give the Marlins what we thought was a significant break, but they just weren't comfortable going to the fourth year."
Alden Gonzalez is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
