Report: Kelly Johnson to rejoin Braves on one-year deal
Kelly Johnson is back with the Braves -- again.
According to multiple reports, Atlanta has agreed to a one-year major league contract with the 10-year veteran. The deal is pending a physical.
It is his third stint with the franchise and the second straight offseason he has rejoined the team he broke in with in 2005.
Johnson hit .265/.314/.435 with 14 home runs and 47 RBI in 335 plate appearances, including a .275 averaged and nine HRs before he was dealt to the Mets on July 24.
The versatile 33-year-old played 26 games in left field last season, along with 26 at second base, 21 at first and 10 at third.
He can add depth to all those spots for the Braves. They are expected to use Hector Olivera, a position that is new to him, and there are questions surrounding Adonis Garcia at third and Jace Peterson at second.
With Nick Swisher -- the primary backup to Freddie Freeman at first -- said to be on the trading block, the Braves would have another option behind their two-time All-Star.
Taken with the 38th pick in 2000 by Atlanta, Johnson was part of the Baby Braves, the collection of 18 rookies that also included Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann and helped extend the franchise's run of division titles to 14 straight in '05.
Leaving as a free agent after the 2009 season, Johnson spent two years in Arizona before playing for every American League East team from 2011-04. He is the only player in history to have played for the Blue Jays (2011-12), Rays (2013), Yankees (2014), Red Sox (2014) and Orioles (2014).
Follow Cory McCartney on Twitter @coryjmccartney and Facebook
