House That Hank Built
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Atlanta Braves: 5 Worst Contracts In Recent Memory

By Sam Peebles

BJ Upton is arguably the worst Braves signing ever (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Washington Nationals/Getty Images)
BJ Upton is arguably the worst Braves signing ever (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Washington Nationals/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves
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Chris Johnson #23 of the Atlanta Braves. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Atlanta Braves Extend Chris Johnson

After coming off an above-average 2013 season (124 OPS+ and 2.5 WAR in 142), the Atlanta Braves extended Chris Johnson to a 3 year, $23.5 million extension with a club option. The deal was a moderate risk high reward scenario with Johnson never having a good year prior to 2013.

Johnson did nothing to boost confidence once he extended. In 2014 Johnson had a -0.6 WAR season slashing .263/.292/.361 which equated to 16% below league average with an 84%. It was not like he was making it up with his glove either, with a -0.4 dWAR.

By 2015, the Atlanta Braves had enough when Johnson slashed .255/.286/.337 with a 71 OPS+ through 83 games and shipped him off to Cleveland for Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher for nothing more than a swap of bad contracts. In fact, the Braves ended up losing about $7 million just to get out of the contract.

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