Chris Johnson

Johnson got off to a sluggish start for the Braves before being traded to the Indians in August. He didn’t fare much better in Cleveland, compiling a .679 OPS in 27 games and then landing on the DL with a hand infection. In each of the last two seasons, he’s struggled with strikeouts at a clip above his career 24.7%. Johnson handles southpaws well enough (.314/.350/.436 in 724 career plate appearances) to be a platoon option at the infield corners. The Marlins will presumably pair him up with Justin Bour at first base after he signed a one-year deal with Miami in January.

Former Braves general manager Frank Wren handed Johnson a three-year, $23.5 million extension in early May, which seemed to ease the third baseman's mind following a dismal month of April (.583 OPS). He hit .301 over the next two months, but Johnson, the runner-up for the NL batting title in 2013, finished with just a .263/.292/.361 line last season. Johnson's walk rate plummeted to a career-low 3.8%, while his strikeout rate jumped to 26.0%, from 21.2% in 2013. His ISO fell by close to 40 points and his wOBA dropped by nearly 70 (from .354 to .289), as Johnson embodied the Braves' regression as a whole. Given his contract, it seems likely Johnson will continue in an everyday role at third base for Atlanta, but his lack of plus power and fluctuating average take him out of the conversation in most mixed formats, and he'll make for a low-end option in NL-only leagues, while likely batting near the bottom of the order.

Johnson began the 2013 season in a platoon with Juan Francisco, but took over as the everyday third baseman after Francisco was designated for assignment in late May. He rewarded the Braves for their trust, finishing with the second-best batting average in the National League (.321) while smacking 12 home runs and 34 doubles. The numbers were surprising, but even more so when looking at his advanced statistics, as Johnson posted a rather paltry .136 ISO, and his contact rate dipped slightly. His walks were also down, as he drew only 29 in 514 at-bats, and his .394 BABIP jumps out as an anomaly. Johnson did, however, hit lefties with great consistency (.383 average), after struggling against southpaws in 2012 (.245 average). Still, a regression at the dish seems inevitable, but the hot corner is his, and he could move up to the five-hole in the batting order to fill the void left by the departure of Brian McCann.

The lack of big league ready third basemen in the upper levels of the D-Backs' system led to the acquisition of Johnson from the Astros in late July. Over the final 44 games, he hit .286/.321/.503 with seven homers in 160 at-bats, flashing a career-high .218 ISO during that span. All signs point to an opportunity for Johnson to reprise his role as the team's starter in 2013, while prospect Matt Davidson will continue his development in the minors, at least initially. A subpar defender with a meager 4.8 percent career walk rate, it's easy to envision a scenario where the D-Backs decide to make a change at the hot corner in-season if Johnson manages to earn the Opening Day nod.

Johnson had one of the more disappointing seasons in the majors last season, hitting just .251/.291/.378 with seven home runs. On closer inspection, no one should be surprised. Just as he did in 2010, Johnson struck out more than once every four at-bats, and like 2010, it again took him on average nearly 25 plate appearances to work a walk. With numbers like these, 2010 looks like more of a fluke than 2011 does. Perhaps a good hitting coach can straighten him out, but time is running short.

After Pedro Feliz unsurprisingly faltered, Johnson got a chance to start and blossomed into a young stud at third. There were several times last year when he went on offensive tears -- look no further than his .359/.393/.615 July line for proof. Despite relatively solid numbers, there are still reasons to be concerned. Johnson has a tendency to overswing and he struck out in more than a quarter of his at-bats. He will open the season as a starter, but expect a few bumps and bruises as the league gets an extended look at the promising corner infielder.

Johnson had a solid, if unspectacular 2009 season. His power numbers are passable, but his plate discipline (21:89 BB:K) leaves a lot to be desired. If Johnson gets a shot at starting and everything clicks for him, he could hit double-digit home runs with an acceptable batting average. If it doesn't, he'll wind up a reserve infielder and platoon third baseman. The latter outcome is more likely after Houston signed Pedro Feliz to man third base in December.