Rinse and Repeat: Atlanta Braves Trade Kelly Johnson to the Mets

Same Song, Second Verse:  Braves send Kelly Johnson to New York for a minor league pitcher

This deal came together quickly this morning:

In 2015, Kelly Johnson hit 14 dingers for a .265 average and was a decently valuable utility man in addition to providing a clutch hit here and there.

In 2016, he’s not been that:  hitting just .215 in 132 plate appearances with one lone homer.  In the so-called “high leverage” situations, though, he’s been anemic:  batting .167.  However, that figure rose to .241 with runners in scoring position (which is why I truly don’t understand that “high leverage” thing, but that’s a whole ‘nother topic).

Erick Aybar is more-or-less ready to return from his rehab session in Gwinnett (yet he’s hitting .176 in 17 AB).  It will be a few more days until that happens (he was placed on the Disabled List on May 28th), so a placeholder player will be brought up to keep his spot on the bench warm.

That announcement has yet to be made, though it will be practically impossible to get anyone to San Diego in time for this afternoon’s game regardless.

About the New Guy

Akeel Morris (6’1″/195) is a 23½ year old right-handed relief pitcher from the Mets AA affiliate.  He did get a very quick cup of coffee in the majors last year, getting absolutely hammered in 2/3rds of an inning (3 walks, 3 hits, a homer, and 5 total earned runs).

Aside from that indignity, he’s got a big, close-to-mid-90’s fastball that has consistently struck out 10-13 batters per 9 innings in the minors… while walking just under half of that count.  His ERAs have been in the 0.60 to 2.50 range in 2013-15.

This season in AA, he’s been prone to the long ball and his ERA has ballooned a bit to 4.81, but so has his BABIP (to .294).  Might be trying a few different things, I’d guess.

Akeel was a Mets 10th round draft pick in 2010 and has ‘plus’ offerings of fastball and change-up.  He’s American, though a native of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.  If he can harness the location, he could be an interesting pickup.  I’d call this a “win” for Atlanta either way.

Next: Me and Julio Down by the Trade Yard

Hopefully KJ (now 34) can regain some form with the Mets – sometimes a change of scenery like this will do that.  He’s an easy player to like and we wish him well.