UPDATE: It’s a done deal.
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From MASN’s Roch Kubatko comes word that the Orioles are nearing agreement on a minor league contract with veteran first baseman Nick Johnson.
The deal will presumably include an invitation to major league spring training, where Johnson will presumably get a legitimate shot at claiming a spot on Baltimore’s Opening Day bench.
Johnson batted just .201/.326/.328 with six home runs and 13 RBI across 225 plate appearances last year in the Indians’ minor league system and hasn’t appeared in a big league game since the 2010 season. But the Orioles have one of the weakest first base situations in all of baseball and could certainly use the depth.
A former top prospect, Johnson, 33, has registered a .270/.401/.443 career batting line in the majors.