From
Jerry Crasnick:
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 deal will pay Johnson $3.75 million this season, $7.75 million in 2011 and $13.75 million in each of the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
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.
I guess that ends any chances he'd end up in pinstripes. Either way, it's a good move for the Marlins, who now have one of the league's best young pitchers locked up for four years. The deal was the second largest ever for a pitcher heading into his second salary arbitration. The biggest went to Johan Santana, who signed a 4-year, $40 million deal with the Twins back in 2005.
