Pitcher Josh Johnson confirms to ESPN.com that he's agreed to 4-year, $39 million deal with Florida Marlins.

 

http://twitter.com/jcrasnick

 

Pitcher Josh Johnson reached an agreement on a four-year, guaranteed $39 million contract that will keep him with the Florida Marlins through 2013. The pitcher confirmed the agreement to ESPN.com Thursday.

 

"I'm excited,'' Johnson said. "It sets up me and my family for life. One of the best parts is knowing where I'm going to be the next four years. I won't have to hear about any trade rumors or anything like that. I'm happy to be in South Florida.''

 

The contract buys out the final two years of salary arbitration eligibility and the first two years of free agency for Johnson, who has a 34-16 record and a 3.40 ERA in parts of five seasons with the Marlins.

 

Johnson's contract is the second biggest ever for a pitcher heading into his second salary arbitration. The only bigger deal was signed by Johan Santana, who agreed to a four-year, $40 million contract with Minnesota in February 2005 after winning the Cy Young Award.

 

Johnson, regarded as one of baseball's best young starters, made the All-Star team in 2009 and has a 22-6 record since his return from Tommy John surgery in July 2008.

 

Johnson's negotiations took several twists this offseason. In November, agent Matt Sosnick said the two sides had reached an "impasse'' and that Johnson would play under a one-year deal in 2010.

 

Johnson and his representatives entered the offseason looking for a deal slightly above Zack Greinke's four-year, $38 million contract with Kansas City, while the Marlins countered with a reported three-year, $23 million offer. It appeared the spread was too much to overcome and that Johnson would sign a one-year contract or go to salary arbitration -- and possibly be traded at midseason or next winter.

 

Johnson said he was confident throughout the process that a deal would get done.

 

"Jeffrey Loria, our owner, came up to me a couple of times during the season and said, 'We'll get something done -- I promise you,'' Johnson said. "Even when the talks broke down, I was confident we would get something done.''

 

The Marlins dealt arbitration-eligible outfielder Jeremy Hermida to Boston in November and spent much of the winter exploring trades for second baseman Dan Uggla -- seemingly to help free up space in the payroll for a long-term deal for Johnson.

 

The Marlins ranked last among the 30 major league teams with a $36.8 million Opening Day payroll in 2009, but vowed to increase payroll moving forward as they prepare to open a new ballpark in April 2012.

 

The Marlins recently came under scrutiny amid concerns from the players association that they weren't living up to a provision in the basic agreement that requires teams to use revenue sharing receipts to improve performance on the field.

 

Although Marlins president David Samson maintained that the team did not violate the basic agreement, the Marlins issued a joint statement earlier this week promising to "work cooperatively'' with the union and the commissioner's office in the future.

 

"In response to our concerns that revenue sharing proceeds have not been used as required, the Marlins have assured the Union and the Commissioner's Office that they plan to use such proceeds to increase player payroll annually as they move toward the opening of their new ballpark,'' said union executive director Michael Weiner.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4826840

Oh.....god........YES!

 

That is a great deal for JJ. I am so happy.

Pitcher Josh Johnson reached an agreement on a four-year, guaranteed $39 million contract that will keep him with the Florida Marlins through 2013. The pitcher confirmed the agreement to ESPN.com Thursday.

 

"I'm excited,'' Johnson said. "It sets up me and my family for life. One of the best parts is knowing where I'm going to be the next four years. I won't have to hear about any trade rumors or anything like that. I'm happy to be in South Florida.''

 

The contract buys out the final two years of salary arbitration eligibility and the first two years of free agency for Johnson, who has a 34-16 record and a 3.40 ERA in parts of five seasons with the Marlins.

 

Johnson, regarded as one of baseball's best young starters, made the All-Star team in 2009 and has a 22-6 record since his return from Tommy John surgery in July 2008.

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!

 

THERE IS A MOTHER F*CKING GOD!

yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss, jj owns

HALLELUJAH!

Yay!

And like MarlinsLou has stated before Greinke $38 million, JJ- $39 millionI'm not one to brag, but I do believe I was the only one (or one of the few) who, at the beginning of the season, viewed JJ as a better pitcher than Nolasco. I'm not one to brag , but I just thought I should mention that.

I wonder if their negotiating strategy all along was to be shmucks for 3 months, and then "yea ok we'll give you just above Greinke," just to save that extra $2-3 million dollars that Sosnick was originally looking for.

 

Whatever the case, I'm glad EVERYONE realized this was in EVERYONE'S best interest. Good lord this was supposed to be the easy one.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Literally my reaction.

 

Now we just have to hope his arm doesn't blow up again.

"You can have the years or the money...", or you can go into 2010 with no security and $4+/- million to show for your labors.

 

Good choice Josh. I'm thrilled they got this done.

Yay!

 

Wooooo!

 

And other sounds!

 

JJ, you are now officially our ace. Live up to and go beyond our expectations.

What pleases me most is that Johnson himself appears to have been professional and reasonable through all of this. He wanted the Marlins to offer a four year deal and wasn't looking to move to New York.

 

If Coghlan has a promosing 2010, hopefully the Marlins will be talking to him next offseason.

What pleases me most is that Johnson himself appears to have been professional and reasonable through all of this. He wanted the Marlins to offer a four year deal and wasn't looking to move to New York.

 

If Coghlan has a promosing 2010, hopefully the Marlins will be talking to him next offseason.

I love this news more than I love taffy. And I'm a man who loves his taffy.

I love this news more than I love taffy. And I'm a man who loves his taffy.

One of the best hitters and one of the best pitchers locked up for years to come. Great news.

One of the best hitters and one of the best pitchers locked up for years to come. Great news.

This is great news. It's good to be a Marlins' fan today. They still have work to do however. Maybe the pressure that the union is putting on the Marlins will lead to a couple of bargain free agents coming our way.

This is great news. It's good to be a Marlins' fan today. They still have work to do however. Maybe the pressure that the union is putting on the Marlins will lead to a couple of bargain free agents coming our way.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Literally my reaction.

 

Now we just have to hope his arm doesn't blow up again.

 

 

Why did you have to go there???

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Literally my reaction.

 

Now we just have to hope his arm doesn't blow up again.

 

 

Why did you have to go there???

Awesome! FINALLY We are starting to KEEP some of our young talent as a way to build towards the future! Go Marlins!

Awesome! FINALLY We are starting to KEEP some of our young talent as a way to build towards the future! Go Marlins!

I find it incredibly interesting that this happened a day after the Marlins got publicly dressed down by the commissioner's office for not spending enough of the revenue sharing money. I'd still love to know if the $30 million figure that has been thrown out there (as to what Jeffrey Loria was pocketing a year) is accurate.

 

Either way, I am ecstatic that Josh Johnson is signed and hope this is the start of bigger and better things...