Braves Agree to Terms with Free-Agent Outfielder Reed Johnson
One-Year Contact Includes Club Option for 2014
The Atlanta Braves announced today that they have agreed to terms with free-agent outfielder Reed Johnson on a one-year contract for the 2013 season with a club option for 2014. Financial terms of the deal were not announced.
Johnson, who will turn 36 on December 8th, batted .270 (27-for-100) last season with the Braves after coming to Atlanta from the Chicago Cubs in a trade along with left-handed pitcher Paul Maholm on July 30th. He hit .290 (78-for-269) overall last season between Chicago and Atlanta while leading the National League in pinch-hitting (second in the majors) with a .419 (18-for- 43) batting average. Originally drafted by the Blue Jays in the 17th round of the 1999 June free agent draft out of Cal State Fullerton, Johnson ranks sixth in the major leagues against left-handed pitching since 2003 with a .311 (397-for-1275) batting average (min. 1200 AB).
Johnson owns a .284 lifetime batting average with 62 home runs in 1,116 games over 10 seasons. He owns a career average of.286 as a pinch-hitter.