Catcher Johnson saw the end coming with Mariners, thrilled with trade to Padres
Tuesday, December 21, 2010 | 3:06 pm
Rob Johnson had an idea what was going on.
Before the rumors of the Seattle Mariners' interest in catcher Miguel Olivo grew legs early this month, and even before the Mariners designated Johnson for assignment last week, he thought the team might try to move him.
This afternoon they did by trading Johnson, their opening-day starting catcher this year, to the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
“Before even the Olivo stuff started out, I thought there was a chance this would happen,” Johnson said. “I'd thought I would get traded before I got designated. I didn't really worry about it or stress about it too much.”
As the Mariners prepared today for Olivo's arrival -- he'll take his physical exam Wednesday and, if that goes well, the signing will be announced -- Johnson celebrated a new direction with the Padres.
“I am so excited to be a part of the organization,” he said. “It's a really good fit for me and my family. It's a new chapter in our lives, our marriage and in my career.”
Johnson has been with the Mariners from the day they drafted him in the fourth round in 2004. He played 20 games with the Class A Everett AquaSox in his first pro season, made his major league debut at Yankee Stadium in 2007 and was on the Mariners' opening-day roster the past two seasons.
He dealt with health issues both years, however, and last offseason he had surgery to repair torn labrum in each hip along with surgery on his left wrist. He spent much of this year dealing with the residue of those operations, especially on his hips. He batted.191 before the Mariners optioned him to Class AAA Tacoma on Aug. 3, choosing to give most of the playing time at catcher to Adam Moore.
“I probably came back a little too soon, but I chose to do that,” Johnson said. “Any time there's a starting position and they tell you it's yours, you're going to push yourself to be there. In my mind I thought I was ready, but it was a constant battle all year.”
Johnson has spent this offseason working out at the Mariners' training facility near his home in Peoria, Ariz. -- he'll now turn one stoplight sooner to get into the Padres' side of facility, which is in the same complex -- and is working on his flexibility with a specialist in Scottsdale. He's also taking batting practice with White Sox star Paul Konerko.
“I can say without hesitation that I'm 100 percent now,” Johnson said.
With the Padres, he'll compete for playing time with Nick Hundley, who was Johnson's teammate several years ago in the Cape Cod League.
“The Padres told me to come to spring training to win a job,” Johnson said. “I'm as confident as I've ever been. I feel as good as I've felt in years. I'm really happy the Padres took me. I know some other team in the bidding war today. It's good to know other teams interested in you.”
He leaves the Mariners with no bitterness outside his own disappointment that he didn't play better.
“I knew my performance hadn't been up to par,” he said. “Baseball is such a game that it's ‘What have you done lately?' That's part of being a baseball player. I've just got to prepare and do whatever I can to better myself.
“I have a lot of really good memories with the Mariners. My first was when I got drafted. Me and my dad
were in my little apartment complex in Houston (he played college ball at the University of Houston) and I was so poor we didn't have internet in the house so we went over to the (athletic) complex to get online. The first couple of people I met with the Mariners were (minor league director) Pedro Grifol and (catching coordinator) Roger Hansen, and they both took me under their wings and wanted the best for me.
“There were ups and downs, but more than anything I learned from a lot of good baseball people. There was my debut with the Mariners at Yankee Stadium, my first opening day in 2009, and it was really special to run alongside Ken Griffey Jr. and Ichiro. To be able to catch Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee was an honor.”
Moving on, Johnson is overjoyed at his opportunity with the Padres.
“I couldn't control the whole signing of Olivo,” he said. “That's great if that's the direction the Mariners want to go. There were some anxious times in the days after they designated me (for assignment). You don't know who the Mariners are talking to, don't know if anyone else likes you. I prayed tons about it and tried to leave it in the Lord's hands. The door has opened for me and I thank God for that.”
Before the rumors of the Seattle Mariners' interest in catcher Miguel Olivo grew legs early this month, and even before the Mariners designated Johnson for assignment last week, he thought the team might try to move him.
This afternoon they did by trading Johnson, their opening-day starting catcher this year, to the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
“Before even the Olivo stuff started out, I thought there was a chance this would happen,” Johnson said. “I'd thought I would get traded before I got designated. I didn't really worry about it or stress about it too much.”
As the Mariners prepared today for Olivo's arrival -- he'll take his physical exam Wednesday and, if that goes well, the signing will be announced -- Johnson celebrated a new direction with the Padres.
“I am so excited to be a part of the organization,” he said. “It's a really good fit for me and my family. It's a new chapter in our lives, our marriage and in my career.”
Johnson has been with the Mariners from the day they drafted him in the fourth round in 2004. He played 20 games with the Class A Everett AquaSox in his first pro season, made his major league debut at Yankee Stadium in 2007 and was on the Mariners' opening-day roster the past two seasons.
He dealt with health issues both years, however, and last offseason he had surgery to repair torn labrum in each hip along with surgery on his left wrist. He spent much of this year dealing with the residue of those operations, especially on his hips. He batted.191 before the Mariners optioned him to Class AAA Tacoma on Aug. 3, choosing to give most of the playing time at catcher to Adam Moore.
“I probably came back a little too soon, but I chose to do that,” Johnson said. “Any time there's a starting position and they tell you it's yours, you're going to push yourself to be there. In my mind I thought I was ready, but it was a constant battle all year.”
Johnson has spent this offseason working out at the Mariners' training facility near his home in Peoria, Ariz. -- he'll now turn one stoplight sooner to get into the Padres' side of facility, which is in the same complex -- and is working on his flexibility with a specialist in Scottsdale. He's also taking batting practice with White Sox star Paul Konerko.
“I can say without hesitation that I'm 100 percent now,” Johnson said.
With the Padres, he'll compete for playing time with Nick Hundley, who was Johnson's teammate several years ago in the Cape Cod League.
“The Padres told me to come to spring training to win a job,” Johnson said. “I'm as confident as I've ever been. I feel as good as I've felt in years. I'm really happy the Padres took me. I know some other team in the bidding war today. It's good to know other teams interested in you.”
He leaves the Mariners with no bitterness outside his own disappointment that he didn't play better.
“I knew my performance hadn't been up to par,” he said. “Baseball is such a game that it's ‘What have you done lately?' That's part of being a baseball player. I've just got to prepare and do whatever I can to better myself.
“I have a lot of really good memories with the Mariners. My first was when I got drafted. Me and my dad
were in my little apartment complex in Houston (he played college ball at the University of Houston) and I was so poor we didn't have internet in the house so we went over to the (athletic) complex to get online. The first couple of people I met with the Mariners were (minor league director) Pedro Grifol and (catching coordinator) Roger Hansen, and they both took me under their wings and wanted the best for me.
“There were ups and downs, but more than anything I learned from a lot of good baseball people. There was my debut with the Mariners at Yankee Stadium, my first opening day in 2009, and it was really special to run alongside Ken Griffey Jr. and Ichiro. To be able to catch Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee was an honor.”
Moving on, Johnson is overjoyed at his opportunity with the Padres.
“I couldn't control the whole signing of Olivo,” he said. “That's great if that's the direction the Mariners want to go. There were some anxious times in the days after they designated me (for assignment). You don't know who the Mariners are talking to, don't know if anyone else likes you. I prayed tons about it and tried to leave it in the Lord's hands. The door has opened for me and I thank God for that.”
Most recent Mariners blog posts
Comments
(
