Maddon plans on utilizing Johnson's versatility

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Rays manager Joe Maddon likes having Kelly Johnson in camp and, at least for now, he's planning on having the veteran infielder/outfielder move around in the field this season.

"It's a good thing for us," Maddon said. "You never know, as the season progresses, he may nail down one spot and he might stay there. I don't know that. But going into this Spring Training and the season, the idea is to move him -- second base, first base, left field primarily. And utilize his bat that way."

Among the skills Maddon likes about Johnson is his ability to run the bases.

"He's a good baserunner," Maddon said. "He's a really good basestealer. We've already been encouraging him to exploit that part of his game. ... He kind of digs that."

Johnson hit 26 home runs for Arizona in 2010, a statistic that no doubt the Rays would love to see Johnson replicate.

"Of course he is strong enough to do that," Maddon said. "That is within his abilities to do that. Now it's a matter of putting a swing on the ball that consistently allows him to do that."