Veteran Johnson set to be closer

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — The Braves have two relievers with major league closer experience and another with a fastball that regularly reaches or exceeds 100 mph, but there are no plans to go with a closer-by-committee or have an open competition for the closer job this spring.

Barring injury or other unexpected development before opening day, veteran Jim Johnson will be the closer when the season begins. That’s what they had in mind when they signed him to a two-year extension worth at least $10 million on the final day of the 2016 season, and that hasn’t changed.

His main setup guys figure to be Arodys Vizcaino, who excelled in the closer role for about two months last season before injuries derailed his season just before the All-Star break, and second-year righthander Mauricio Cabrera, who throws harder than anyone in the majors other than all-everything closer Aroldis Chapman.

“JJ’s in great shape,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Hopefully he’s throwing the ball like he did when the season ended . ... (Vizcaino) hasn’t done it in a long time. Viz has just got to be healthy. We just hope we get him through, and he’s healthy and back to being like he was when I got here last year in May . ...

“Look at it right now, I don’t know why ( Johnson wouldn’t be the closer), quite honestly. That guy was pretty good, and reliable and durable. Things change day to day, as we know in this business. But gun to my head right now, yeah, probably would go that way.”

Johnson, 33, had a 3.06 ERA and 19 saves in 65 appearances, with 68 strikeouts and 20 walks in 64⅔ innings. He thrived after moving from a setup role back to full-time closer in the second half, following the early-season trade of Jason Grilli and Vizcaino’s injuries.

Johnson posted a 1.65 ERA with 51 strikeouts and 12 walks in 49 innings over his final 48 games in 2016.

“Whatever the job title is,” Johnson said. “I mean, that (closer) is kind of what we talked about at the end of last year, by signing the extension with the team. But that doesn’t change my motivation at all, what my goal is to do, whatever I have to do to help the team win ballgames.

“Getting those big outs at the end of games is one of them.”

He could have become a free agent, but Johnson re-upped with the Braves, getting a $1 million signing bonus and a $4.5 million salary for each of the next two seasons. He can make additional performance bonuses worth up to $1.75 million annually, bonuses basically tied to how much he serves in the closer role and how long he stays healthy.

He gets $250,000 for finishing 30 games, plus an additional $250,000 for each additional five games finished up to 60 per season. If, for example, Johnson finished 45 games in a season, he would get $1 million in bonus money.

The sinkerballer has a 2.72 ERA and 29 saves in 114 appearances for the Braves over two seasons, with 101 strikeouts and 34 walks in 112⅔ innings.

Five days after Johnson signed his extension, the Braves fired pitching coach Roger McDowell, whom Johnson credited for helping him get his career back on track in 2015. Chuck Hernandez, a former major league pitching coach with several teams, was promoted from Braves minor league pitching coordinator to replace McDowell.