Athletics Acquire Closer Jim Johnson from Orioles
Published at
Rob Carr/Getty Images(OAKLAND, Calif.) — The Oakland Athletics continue to make under-the-radar moves that could pay off big time in 2014 as they’ve acquired closer Jim Johnson from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for infielder Jemile Weeks and a player to be named later.
For the past two seasons, Johnson has been one of the best closers not just in the American League, but all of baseball.
Since being converted to a closer prior to the 2012 season, Johnson has back-to-back seasons with 50 or more saves. He led the majors in saves in 2012 and tied Craig Kimbrel for the Major League lead in saves in 2013.
Even though the Athletics’s closer last year, Grant Balfour, saved 38 games for the team last season, he’s a free agent and the team wasn’t willing to commit to him long-term.
Meanwhile, the 26-year-old Weeks was at one time a highly regarded prospect but he’s struggled to carry it over to the Major Leagues. In 223 games over the span of three seasons, Weeks is a career .258 hitter.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio