Baltimore Orioles – Jim Johnson Traded To Oakland A’s For Jemile Weeks
Sep 28, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jim Johnson (43) throws in the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles defeated the Red Sox 6-5. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Reports came in just before midnight Monday that the Baltimore Orioles traded closer Jim Johnson to the Oakland Athletics for second baseman Jemile Weeks and a player to be named later or future considerations.
Earlier reports of a possible trade with the Dodgers proved to be untrue.
Weeks, who will be age 27 in January, is a Florida native who attended the University of Miami. He was drafted by the A’s in the 1st round of the 2008 amateur draft as the 12th overall pick. He is the younger brother of Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks.
Jamile Weeks spent most of this past season at AAA Sacramento of the Pacific Coast League. He played in 130 games with a .271 batting average and OPS of .745. Certainly not a power hitter, Weeks tallied 19 doubles, 10 triples, and 4 home runs among his 141 hits. He did however draw 80 walks for an OBP of .376 … so Dan Duquette would like that … though there is also the matter of 99 strike outs!
Weeks spent the majority of his 2012 season with the A’s and in 118 games had a line of .221 / .305 / .304 / .609. He did steal 16 bases (and another 17 at AAA this year).
And continuing to work backward, Weeks played in 97 games with the Oakland A’s in 2011. His numbers were much better, with a line of .303 / .340 / .421 /.761. His 13 errors at 2B were the most in the AL in 2011. Showalter will want to beat that out of him!
At first glance this trade appears to be a salary dump for sure, with the Orioles getting a contender for the second base position. As a first-round draft choice, Weeks has to have great potential as an athlete. His numbers – also at first glance – would give the impression that this is a player who might benefit from a change of scenery. As well, trades involving players to be named later cannot really be fully evaluated at the front end.
More will be written on this soon, and for a fuller discussion of Johnson’s position with the Orioles as a trade candidate, see the preceding article here on The Baltimore Wire.
Twitter: @OSayOrioles / @BaltimoreWireFS