JimF
02-19-00, 05:32 PM
<u><center><font size="+1">Bitter over arbitration, Johnson readies for free agency</u></center></font>
<font size="1">Feb. 19, 2000 6:16 PM
AP</font>
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) For three straight years, Charles Johnson has been forced to hear his employers rip his performance in front of arbitrators.
He's bitter and hurt, and Saturday he said this will likely be his last season with the Baltimore Orioles.
Johnson, one of the best defensive catchers in the game, beat the Florida Marlins in salary arbitration before the 1998 season and twice has appeared before panels as a member of the Orioles, losing Saturday for the second straight time.
He will get $4.6 million this year instead of his request for $5.1 million.
Even before he learned of the decision, Johnson was clearly miffed as he prepared for his first day of spring training practice.
"When you're $500,000 away and can't reach the midpoint, the chances of me staying here long-term are slim," he said. "This is the second time I've done this with the Orioles and I really don't see me staying here that much longer."
Johnson will be eligible for free agency after the season, and he's looking for a five-year contract. He doesn't expect such an offer to come from the Orioles.
"I can't go into the office and say, 'Sign me.' They have to really make an effort, and they haven't," he said.
Johnson came to Baltimore in December 1998 in a three-way deal that sent relief pitcher Armando Benitez to the New York Mets. Benitez signed a four-year contract with the Mets this week while Johnson prepared for yet another arbitration hearing.
Last year he asked the Orioles for $5.1 million and wound up with Baltimore's offer of $3.6 million. Given the relatively small difference in the numbers this year, Johnson figured it would be easy to reach a compromise.
"I told my agent, `If they can come in at the midpoint we can get this thing settled and go about our business.' But we couldn't even do that," he said. "I just look at it as if we can't get that done, how are we going to let a long-term thing done?"
Johnson, 28, did a credible job in his first season in Baltimore, hitting .251 with 16 homers and 54 RBIs. But his strong point has always been on defense, and in that regard he was exceptional. He threw out 40 percent of would-be stealers and was so intimidating that only one runner attempt to swipe a base off him over his final 16 games.
In addition, Johnson played a career-high 135 games because backup Lenny Webster missed time on the disabled list and the Orioles were reluctant to use the inexperienced Mike Figga behind the plate.
But the Orioles told arbitrators that Johnson just didn't get the job done.
"There's nothing easy about it. They're telling me how bad a year I had, and my agent tells me it's a pretty good year," Johnson said. "I'm sick of it. They tear you up, and then you have to wait to see who the panel is going to believe."
<font size="1"><center>AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service</font></center>
<hr>
I think we have a possible solution here if Jorge doesn't show improvement this year. This might be exactly what the Yanks need to fill in that hole at the bottom of their lineup, and make them solid on defense all the way around. This could be a very, very good thing...
<font size="1">Feb. 19, 2000 6:16 PM
AP</font>
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) For three straight years, Charles Johnson has been forced to hear his employers rip his performance in front of arbitrators.
He's bitter and hurt, and Saturday he said this will likely be his last season with the Baltimore Orioles.
Johnson, one of the best defensive catchers in the game, beat the Florida Marlins in salary arbitration before the 1998 season and twice has appeared before panels as a member of the Orioles, losing Saturday for the second straight time.
He will get $4.6 million this year instead of his request for $5.1 million.
Even before he learned of the decision, Johnson was clearly miffed as he prepared for his first day of spring training practice.
"When you're $500,000 away and can't reach the midpoint, the chances of me staying here long-term are slim," he said. "This is the second time I've done this with the Orioles and I really don't see me staying here that much longer."
Johnson will be eligible for free agency after the season, and he's looking for a five-year contract. He doesn't expect such an offer to come from the Orioles.
"I can't go into the office and say, 'Sign me.' They have to really make an effort, and they haven't," he said.
Johnson came to Baltimore in December 1998 in a three-way deal that sent relief pitcher Armando Benitez to the New York Mets. Benitez signed a four-year contract with the Mets this week while Johnson prepared for yet another arbitration hearing.
Last year he asked the Orioles for $5.1 million and wound up with Baltimore's offer of $3.6 million. Given the relatively small difference in the numbers this year, Johnson figured it would be easy to reach a compromise.
"I told my agent, `If they can come in at the midpoint we can get this thing settled and go about our business.' But we couldn't even do that," he said. "I just look at it as if we can't get that done, how are we going to let a long-term thing done?"
Johnson, 28, did a credible job in his first season in Baltimore, hitting .251 with 16 homers and 54 RBIs. But his strong point has always been on defense, and in that regard he was exceptional. He threw out 40 percent of would-be stealers and was so intimidating that only one runner attempt to swipe a base off him over his final 16 games.
In addition, Johnson played a career-high 135 games because backup Lenny Webster missed time on the disabled list and the Orioles were reluctant to use the inexperienced Mike Figga behind the plate.
But the Orioles told arbitrators that Johnson just didn't get the job done.
"There's nothing easy about it. They're telling me how bad a year I had, and my agent tells me it's a pretty good year," Johnson said. "I'm sick of it. They tear you up, and then you have to wait to see who the panel is going to believe."
<font size="1"><center>AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service</font></center>
<hr>
I think we have a possible solution here if Jorge doesn't show improvement this year. This might be exactly what the Yanks need to fill in that hole at the bottom of their lineup, and make them solid on defense all the way around. This could be a very, very good thing...