Johjima leaves Seattle for Japan

Seattle Mariners Catcher Kenji Johjima has decided to forgo the last two years and $16M of his contract with the Mariners to return to Japan. Surely, the Mariners are pleased with this news, as Johjima had struggled mightily in 2009 and it allows them to try to search for an upgrade for the position on last year's duo of Johjima and rookie Rob Johnson.

What does this have to do with the D-Backs? Well, Johjima's departure opens up the possibility of a swap of our own Chris Snyder to the Mariners that appears to be beneficial for all parties involved. What makes the Mariners a good fit? Johjima's current backup, 26-year-old 2009-rookie Rob Johnson, who Johjima lost some playing time to last season due to Johnson's better "handling of the pitching staff," only hit .213/.289/.326 for an OPS of .615 last year. Combine this with the fact that Johnson's offseason is bringing with it a dancing plethora of surgeries (surgeries to repair torn labrums in both right and left hips, surgery to repair a tear in his left wrist, and perhaps surgery to repair a bone spur in his right elbow, according to the team's website), and you have a catching situation in Seattle that is remarkably bleak. Further, everyone who follows baseball knows of Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik's fetish with players who flash the glove (and the success of last season's team that only will encourage him), and the preference of Johnson over Johjima due to how he dealt with the pitching staff, and Snyder, whose specialties are dealing with pitching staffs and playing great defense, seems like a near-perfect fit for a smaller salary than Johjima was on the books for for the next two seasons. After all, the Mariners traded for Jack Wilson, so getting Snyder for a discount price (as I'm sure we'd be willing to take) would be a heist for them.

3 months ago IHateSouthBend 14 comments 0 recs |

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Hmm

I’d be willing to trade Snyder for Felix Hernandez, straight up. We could continue our tradition of picking up AL West pitchers in the off-season.

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by kishi on Oct 19, 2009 3:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm gonna assume

that you’re joking?

Warning: the above represents the thoughts and opinions of a 16-year-old.
Wanna see how bad I suck at softball? See my stats...

by Wailord on Oct 19, 2009 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of course he's joking

Felix AND a grade A- or B+ prospect for Snyder.

by Counsellmember on Oct 19, 2009 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, I'm dead serious

If we got the Mariners management really drunk, drunk enough to offer that trade- which would probably be a very fine balance between “they’re drunk enough to offer the trade” and “they’re sober enough to speak coherently”- I would accept it in a heartbeat. What, you wouldn’t accept the trade?

On the other hand, my sister, the Mariners fan, would stop talking to me. She called me after we signed Garland and said that she was fine with the Diamondbacks signing pitchers from the AL West, but if we tried to steal King Felix, I would be dead to her. I’m pretty sure she meant it.

by kishi on Oct 19, 2009 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

With regard to your softball stats.

That’s some mighty fine BABIP going there.

Most Depressing Math Question Ever courtesy of Probability class: "Clark and Anthony are two old friends. Let A be the event that Clark will attend Anthony's funeral. Let B be the event that Anthony will attend Clark's funeral. Are A and B independent? Why or why not?"

by IHateSouthBend on Oct 21, 2009 1:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ok IHSB

tell me who I would want out of the M’s system, as I’m not too familiar there.

Indianapolis Colts, taking focus away from my DBacks every Sunday.

by AJforAZ on Oct 19, 2009 5:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Anybody.

After the kind of season Snyder had (injured a lot, down-year production-wise) and our likely desire to rid ourselves of his salary, a fringe prospect or two if we’re lucky would easily suffice. This is, of course, if I was making decisions. Which would undoubtedly be horrendous for the team… :-P

by IHateSouthBend on Oct 20, 2009 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unfortunately, you’re right. Anybody would be good considering, which means, perhaps, that we ought to see if Snyder can put together a decent Apri-June we could better our return.

"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too. " ~Greg, age 8

by njjohn on Oct 20, 2009 8:56 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

But you have to weigh that

With the effect it would have on our team record-wise. Montero was one of the best catchers in all of baseball after Snyder went down. Especially given that Miggy is young, do you want to mess with him that much?

by IHateSouthBend on Oct 21, 2009 1:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

2 catchers

There are definate benefits to having catchers split some time, especially at the start of the season. Montero will still be our primary, but give Snyder a couple of starts every week, so at least several chances to pinch hit and stay in the game.

Lets upgrade Snyder;s value for a few months while keeping Montero fresh for his first full season as the “#1 catcher”.

by Counsellmember on Oct 21, 2009 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

there is no way we could get felix for snyder, are you insane

by txzona on Oct 19, 2009 5:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

As long as the Seattle GM is too

That’s what matters. :-)

"Win, or die" -- Marquise de Merteuil

by Jim McLennan on Oct 19, 2009 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Seattle does not need a catcher

one of the Mariners top prospects is a catcher that’s ready to start or platoon with Rob Johnson, so I doubt the Mariners are looking for another catcher. that’s one of the reasons that Johjima may have wanted to leave, the fact that he was just going to sit around and not get much playing time the next two years.

by shibum78 on Oct 21, 2009 8:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Adam Moore?

Read up on him a bit. This is a good article:
Mariners think he’s quite a catch
If what it says is true, then yeah, the Mariners probably won’t be looking to trade for a catcher.

"Win, or die" -- Marquise de Merteuil

by Jim McLennan on Oct 22, 2009 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs