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| Manager Joe Girardi announced Wednesday that Nick Johnson will need surgery on his right wrist, according to Jack Curry of the YES Network. |
Our View: His first wrist surgery in mid-May has kept him out since. This one will end his season, officially. He'll finish with a .167 average and two homers through 72 at-bats.
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| Nick Johnson (wrist) is still feeling pain when he swings a bat, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. |
Our View: He'll head back to New York to be re-evaluated. It doesn't sound like we'll be seeing him back on the field anytime soon.
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| Nick Johnson (wrist) will begin hitting off a tee in the near future, according to the New York Post. |
Our View: He's still a few weeks away from playing in the game and remains out indefinitely. Certainly do not expect him to be back with the Yankees anytime in July.
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| According to the Journal News, Nick Johnson (wrist) is still a long ways off from returning to action. |
Our View: Manager Joe Girardi noted that Johnson is still far removed from even swinging a bat, so don't expect to see him any time soon. "I have not been given a date when he's going to pick up a bat, and usually that's when I know we're getting close," Girardi said. He played just 24 games before having surgery on the wrist and won't be back until after the All Star break.
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| Nick Johnson is no longer wearing a brace around his wrist, according to the Journal News. |
Our View: He's able to do most everyday things without a problem, though he's still yet to be cleared to swing a bat. It still might be wishful thinking to expect him back at any point this season.
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| According to Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman, the Yankees are "not confident" that Nick Johnson (wrist) will be able to return this season. |
Our View: Who could have ever seen this coming? With Francisco Cervelli coming back down to earth (and Jorge Posada needing to get back behind the plate as a result) in the past few weeks, it looks like the Yanks are going to have to take to the trade market to find a new everyday DH.
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| The Yankees have transferred Nick Johnson (wrist) from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL, according to YES Networks's Jack Curry. |
Our View: This roster move doesn't do anything to affect his fantasy value. He won't be healthy enough to return to the Yankees' anytime before the All-Star break, regardless of whether or not he's eligible to do so.
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| Nick Johnson will undergo wrist surgery on Tuesday and is likely out until July, according to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal. |
Our View: Given Johnson's track record, a July return actually sounds a bit too optimistic. We wouldn't be surprised if August rolled around and he was still out, needless to say that his outlook for the remainder of the year looks bleak.
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| The Yankees have placed Nick Johnson on the 15-day DL due to an inflamed tendon in his wrist, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: This news hardly comes as a shock. For now, the injury doesn't sound too serious, though he's had serious problems with his wrist before. He still has potential if he can secure a role at the No. 2 spot in the Yankees' lineup once he back, but for now, there's little reason to hang on to him. Look for Marcus Thames to see most of the time at DH.
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| According to WFAN, Nick Johnson will likely end up on the disabled list after injuring his wrist against the Red Sox on Friday night. |
Our View: Hitting just .167 through his first 72 at-bats this season, he won't exactly be missed, however. New York will most likely recall an infielder when he lands on the DL, as Robinson Cano is also ailing.
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| Updating an earlier item, the injury that forced Nick Johnson from New York's Friday evening game has been revealed to be a sore right wrist, according to the Newark Star-Ledger. |
Our View: This being Johnson, expect him to be out longer than "day-to-day." Marcus Thames will likely fill-in at DH while he's out. Stay tuned.
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| The ever-fragile Nick Johnson was forced from New York's game against Boston in the fifth inning on Friday evening with an undisclosed injury, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. |
Our View: He was replaced in New York's lineup by Marcus Thames. Obviously, stay tuned.
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| Nick Johnson was 3-for-3 with a double, home run, two walks, an RBI and two runs scored as the Yankees held on to beat the Orioles 7-5. |
Our View: Johnson has struggled throughout the start of the season, evidenced by his .171 batting average. However, those that play in OBP rather than AVG leagues probably have not noticed thanks to an impressive .396 OBP. We hope that today's impressive hitting will carry forward and that he snaps out of his slump. As the No. 2 hitter in the Yankees' lineup, he could put up some great numbers.
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| Updating an earlier item, Nick Johnson is day-to-day with a bruised right knee, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. He is dealing with a bruise. |
Our View: With most players, you wouldn't expect a bruise, even a bad one, to keep them out of any game action. Since this is Nick Johnson we are dealing with, though, consider him very questionable for Sunday against the Red Sox.
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| Nick Johnson was lifted from Friday's game after fouling a ball off his right knee. |
Our View: Johnson was able to walk back to the dugout and didn't appear to be in much pain, so this shouldn't be anything to worry about. That said, given his injury history, you never know.
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| Nick Johnson was 2-for-2 with two solo home runs against the Pirates on Tuesday. |
Our View: Johnson did so from the No. 2 spot in the Yankees' lineup, at it looks like that spot is his to lose. While he may not possess as much power as your typical first baseman or designated hitter, Johnson has always possessed a knack for getting on base and should see an overall boost in his numbers with the talent surrounding him this year.
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| Nick Johnson will rest his stiff back until Sunday, according to Jack Curry's twitter page. |
Our View: GM Brian Cashman told Johnson that he made the team, and there is no need to push it. He is expected to serve in the DH role, and will have a solid supporting cast to post nice fantasy numbers, namely in the RBI and run scoring department.
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| Nick Johnson was scratched from his scheduled spring training start on Thursday due to a sore lower back, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. He said the injury came as a result of him catching a spike in the dirt wrong. |
Our View: Old habits die hard, and in Johnson's case, his habit is to get hurt. Stay tuned.
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| Nick Johnson went 1-for-2 with an RBI and run scored in his first spring at-bats for the Yankees on Wednesday. |
Our View: He also struck out. If you add in a walk, that's how many of his box scores should look this season.
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| Nick Johnson's deal with the Yankees will be worth $5.5 million this season, along with plate appearance-based incentives, according to ESPN's Buster Olney. |
Our View: The deal also includes a $5.5 million mutual option for next year. Johnson's signing with New York is all but official, and you can expect him to be used primarily at designated hitter from the No. 2 spot in the lineup, likely spelling the end to Johnny Damon's tenure in New York. With his supporting cast and tendency to get on base, Johnson could be a nice sleeper next season as long as he can stay healthy.
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| Updating an earlier item, the New York Yankees are "on the verge" of signing first baseman Nick Johnson, according to Buster Olney to ESPN. |
Our View: In that case, call him "designated hitter" Nick Johnson. If the deal goes through, it will almost certainly mean the end of Johnny Damon's days in the Big Apple. Stay tuned.
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| The Giants have "increased their offer" to free agent first baseman Nick Johnson, according to Fox Sports. |
Our View: Signing Johnson, whose .426 on-base percentage was the third highest in all of baseball last season, would seem to be an essential move for the team with baseball's lowest team OBP in 2009. With the Yankees now in the mix for his services, it will be hard, but the $6 million San Francisco is now said to be offering could be enough to land him. Stay tuned.
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| The Yankees have started to discuss a potential signing of free agent Nick Johnson, according to ESPN.com. |
Our View: The Yankees would have no need for Johnson if they're able to sign Johnny Damon, but with talks with Damon currently stagnant, Johnson is the backup plan as a potential No. 2 hitter at DH. Though he's always been injury prone, Johnson has displayed a reliable bat whenever healthy throughout his career and would see a nice boost in fantasy value if he were to land with the Yankees.
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| The Giants "like" Nick Johnson for first base, according to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated. |
Our View: He would certainly make sense for a team that had the majors' lowest team on-base percentage by five points last season. His long and winding injury history may give them pause, but they should look long and hard at him before deciding to look elsewhere.
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| Eight teams are interested in free agent first baseman Nick Johnson, according to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated. |
Our View: The Giants are believed to be the most serious, while he is also drawing some interest from Atlanta. The Marlins have previously expressed a desire to keep him. While he has been among the most injury-prone players of his generation, he has been productive when on the field. He is a career .273 hitter, with a sparkling .402 on-base percentage. In 133 games between the Nationals and Marlins last season, he got on base at a clip of .426, third best in all of baseball.
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| Nick Johnson would be a good fit in Arizona, but the club is unlikely to reel him in, according to MLBblogs.com. |
Our View: The Diamondbacks only have around $10MM to spend, and have pressing needs in their pitching rotation to address. The Mariners, Giants, Mets and Yankees are all believed to be interested in Johnson.
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| FoxSports.com indicates that free agent Nick Johnson has drawn interest of several teams already. He hit .291 last season with a .426 OBP. |
Our View: Johnson is a solid player both on offense and defense, but has a notorious injury history. Among the teams that appear to have interest are the Giants, Mets, Yankees, and Mariners.
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| According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Nick Johnson may be on the Giants wish list this offseason. |
Our View: The Giants are a team full of free swingers, so they could certainly benefit from a patient hitter like Johnson (99 BB, .426 OBP). Manager Bruce Bochy loves him apparently, and he won't cost an arm and a leg this hot stove season like Matt Holliday, Jason Bay and John Lackey certainly will.
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| Nick Johnson is in Friday's lineup at Philadelphia, according to MLBblogs.com. |
Our View: The corner infielder has been out of action since September 25 while dealing with an illness. He will be facing opposing hurler Joe Blanton in his return, who carries a 12-7 mark and a 3.95 ERA.
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| MLBlogs.com reports that first baseman Nick Johnson is not in Saturday's lineup against the Mets. |
Our View: Johnson is apparently feeling sick and will get the day off. Nothing to worry about here as he should return tomorrow. Ross Gload will get the start at first in his place.
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| Nick Johnson performed well in tonight's 11-6 loss at St. Louis, as he went 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. He hit a double and a two-run homer off Todd Wellemeyer. |
Our View: Johnson bounced back after only recording one hit over his previous three games. He is hitting .361 over 36 at-bats this month.
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| Nick Johnson led the charge for the Marlins on Thursday. He racked up four RBI with a 2-for-4, two walk performance in a convincing 13-4 victory over the Mets. |
Our View: Johnson is hitting .355 since coming over to the Marlins and is doing exactly what they wanted him to do. In addition to his 22 hits he has drawn 21 walks, putting his OBP well over .500 with his new club.
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| Nick Johnson went 2-for-5 with two RBI against his former team on Sunday, but the Nationals rallied from a 4-2 ninth inning deficit to beat the Marlins 5-4 in Washington. |
Our View: Since coming off of the disabled list on Friday, Johnson has picked up right where he left off before getting hurt, reaching base in seven of his 14 plate appearances.
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| Nick Johnson has been activated from the 15-day disabled list. |
Our View: Johnson likely won't post a .500 on-base percentage from here on out, like he did in his first 13 games for the Marlins, but will get on base plenty ahead of Hanley Ramirez, helping both Ramirez and the team.
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| Nick Johnson is ready to rejoin the Marlins on Thursday, according to the Miami Herald. |
Our View: And not a moment too soon for the wild card contending Marlins. The Fish went 8-5 during Johnson's first 13 games with the team, a span in which he had an on-base percentage of .500, but just 6-9 in the 15 games he has been out. Wes Helms now also no longer have to start at third base.
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| Nick Johnson is set to begin a minor league rehab assignment Tuesday with Single-A Jupiter, according to MLBblogs.com. He has been recovering from a strained right hamstring. |
Our View: The Marlins expect him to play at least two games with Jupiter, and then hope he is ready to rejoin them as early as Friday at Washington.
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| Nick Johnson (hamstring) will likely play in a few minor league games next week before rejoining the team sometime around September 7th, the day the minor league season ends, according to MLBlogs.com. |
Our View: In 13 games with the Marlins before getting hurt, Johnson posted an absurd .500 on-base percentage. The agility drills the team has been having him run in recent days have been going well, so September 7th seems realistic.
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| Nick Johnson has been placed on the 15-day DL by the Marlins, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Johnson mas been out for over a week with a hamstring injury. |
Our View: This move was inevitable, as Johnson has missed over a week with the injury. His stint on the DL will be retroactive back to August 16, so he will be eligible to return at the start of September.
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| Nick Johnson (hamstring) attempted some on the filed running drills on Sunday, but they did not go well, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. |
Our View: Johnson said he does not believe he will be able to play in the team's series against the Mets this week, and after having him out for nearly eight full games, it looks like they will have little choice but to retroactively disable him.
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| Nick Johnson (hamstring) is out of the Marlins lineup again on Saturday, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. |
Our View: The DL seems all but inevitable for Johnson, and the Marlins might be wise to get him there and stop playing a man short as they fight for the National League wild card.
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| The Palm Beach Post reports that the Marlins are still trying to avoid placing first baseman Nick Johnson on the disabled list. |
Our View: Johnson isn't expected to play this weekend due to a hamstring injury that has kept him out of the lineup since last weekend. The Marlins are going with the wait-and-see approach and want to avoid losing Johnson for the additional time he would spend on the DL if he were to miraculously just get better in the next couple days.
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| Nick Johnson, dealing with a lingering hamstring injury, could land on the disabled list soon, according to the Palm Beach Post. |
Our View: Johnson apparently will not play until this Sunday at the earliest, so the team is considering placing him on the DL retroactive to last Sunday, which was when he hurt the hammy. The injury could not have come at a worse time for the wild card contending Marlins, as Johnson has posted an obscene .500 OBP in his first 13 games hitting in front of Hanley Ramirez in Miami. Wes Helms has been playing third base in his absence, with Jorge Cantu sliding back over to first. Stay tuned.
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| MLB.com is reporting that the Marlins are taking it slow with the hamstring injury of first baseman Nick Johnson. Johnson did some light workouts on Wednesday, but he was not scheduled to hit. |
Our View: It doesn't look like the Marlins are planning to place Johnson on the DL, but they will make the decision on Friday. He might hit tomorrow. but the team doesn't want to rush him back and cause a more severe injury. Expect him to be out for at least a few more days.
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| Marlins first baseman Nick Johnson is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game. |
Our View: Johnson left Sunday's game with a hamstring injury and it looks like it is still bothering him. No word on if he'll land on the DL, so consider him day-to-day. Ros Gload will start at first base.
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| Nick Johnson left Sunday's game in the first inning with an apparent hamstring injury. Johnson was replaced at first base by Ross Gload. |
Our View: No word yet on the severity of the injury, but losing Johnson for any amount of time would be bad news for the Fish. Johnson has been on a tear since coming over in the trade, and Florida really needs him in the lineup. We will keep you updated on his condition.
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| Nick Johnson had another big night for the Marlins on Friday, going 2-for-3 with a homer, as the Fish won 3-2 in Philadelphia. |
Our View: So far Johnson has done exactly what the Marlins have wanted him to - get on base, get on base, get on base. The former Nat has at least one hit and walk in all six of his games for the Marlins, and has driven in four runs.
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| According to FOXSports.com, the Marlins have acquired first baseman Nick Johnson from the Nationals for Double-A left-hander Aaron Thompson. |
Our View: The Nationals will pay the remainder of Johnson's salary (an estimated $1.8 million). Since he is a free agent at the end of the season, this is just a two month rental for the Marlins, but now they get Johnson's .408 OBP to bat in front of Hanley Ramirez. Looks like they're not sellers for once and are making a push to win the NL East. Johnson should see a slight boost in fantasy value, especially in the "runs" department.
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| ESPN's Peter Gammons reports that the Marlins are "moving closer" to a trade with the Nationals involving first baseman Nick Johnson. |
Our View: Johnson will be a free agent after this season and likely won't be granted Type B status, so the Nats need to get something for him now. The Marlins reportedly offered pitcher Ryan Tucker, but asked Washington to pay some of the $2 million remaining on Johnson's contract this season. Nothing is done yet, but the Fish would love to hit him in front of Hanley Ramirez, as he is an on base machine.
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| The Marlins are reportedly making a "strong push" for Nationals' first baseman Nick Johnson, according to FOX Sports. |
Our View: The two sides have been unable to reach an agreement regarding players included in a swap for Johnson. He would basically be a two-month rental for Florida at a cost of around $1.8MM.
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| Nick Johnson went 2-for-4 with two RBI on Wednesday, but the Nationals still lost 7-5 in Milwaukee. |
Our View: Johnson has had a very quiet season in 2009, and expect it to stay that way, as he does not appear to be on his way out of Washington.
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| Nick Johnson got the night off on Saturday to allow his toe to heal after he was hit by a pitch the night before by Baltimore's Brad Bergesen, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Johnson had been hit each of the previous two days but should be back in Washington's lineup on Sunday.
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| Nick Johnson is back in the Nationals' lineup for tonight's game at Baltimore after being struck by a John Smoltz pitch during Thursday's battle with Boston, according to the Washington Post. |
Our View: Johnson should be fine to pencil back into fantasy lineups. He has been one of few bright spots for the struggling Nationals this season.
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| Nick Johnson exited tonight's battle against Boston after being struck by a pitch from John Smoltz, according to the Washington Post. |
Our View: Johnson suffered a left shin contusion. Adam Dunn moved from left field to replace Johnson at first. Josh Willingham rotates from right to left field, and Elijah Dukes was inserted into the game to roam in right.
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| The asking price for Nick Johnson in a potential trade remains high according to Sports Illustrated. |
Our View: Johnson continues to hit well for the Nats, but some scouts say his defensive range is down. Even with a high asking price, it is hard to see every contender pass on Johnson, who could provide a much needed bat to many teams. Look for him to be moved as the trade deadline draws closer and teams get more desperate.
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| Manny Acta is expected to remain the Nationals' skipper for now, according to Sports Illustrated. |
Our View: The Nationals are still mulling their options regarding the fate of Acta. The club currently has the worst record in the majors at 16-45, but that is due more to a lack of talent on the diamond rather than Acta's managerial skills.
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| Nick Johnson came to play on Saturday as the Nationals beat the Mets 7-1. Johnson went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, two runs scored, and three RBI in the game. |
Our View: Johnson has been talked about in trade rumors for the past few weeks, and he is making his case as a solid hitter. Johnson won't ever hit for huge power numbers, but he knows how to handle the bat and is a legit .300 hitter. Look for him to be moved before the deadline.
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| Nick Johnson went 1-for-2 with a double and recorded the Nationals' lone RBI in Thursday's 5-1 loss to the Giants. He drew two walks. |
Our View: Johnson continues to lead the Nationals with a .330 batting average, but only has 27 RBI. Adam Dunn leads the club will 42 RBI and 16 homers. Johnson's production would benefit if he is dealt to a better team.
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| Nick Johnson was 3-for-5 with an RBI in Wednesday's 7-4 loss to the Mets. |
Our View: Johnson raised his average to .337 and is having his finest fantasy season in recent memory. His name has been mentioned a lot in trade talks lately and his performance is only helping the Nationals get more in return for him.
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| According to Newsday, Nick Johnson, Josh Willingham and Austin Kearns are on the trading block and available for the right price. |
Our View: The Nationals are looking for a way to improve their team in the future, because, frankly, they're not going to make any strides in 2009. The Mets have shown interest in Johnson with Delgado on the shelf and there have been rumors involving Boston's Manny Delcarmen. The Nationals have also reportedly been scouting some Mets minor leaguers.
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| Nick Johnson is believed to be on the Mets' radar, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. |
Our View: The Mets are also interested in Florida's Jorge Cantu, but likely prefer a left-handed hitter. The Mets need help at first base with Carlos Delgado (hip surgery) on the shelf 8-10 weeks.
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| The Washington Post is reporting that Nick Johnson was a last minute scratch from Sunday's game with a stomach illness. He was replaced by Adam Dunn at first base. |
Our View: Johnson was apparently not feeling well enough to play today, so the Nats had to make a last minute change. Hopefully he doesn't have the same flu that the Reds' Joey Votto had, but right now all indications are that this is a fairly minor illness.
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| The Red Sox have turned down the Nationals' proposal of Nick Johnson for Manny Delcarmen, according to the WEEI Sports Network. |
Our View: The Sox turned it down immediately. They did not want to part with Delcarmen as he holds a strong 0.96 WHIP in relief. The club would have likely added Johnson to platoon with the struggling David Ortiz in the DH role.
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| Peter Gammons of ESPN reported on the Mike and Mike show that the Red Sox have been in talks with the Nationals about a trade involving Nick Johnson and Manny Delcarmen. |
Our View: The Red Sox want to wait on this deal to see if David Ortiz can break out of his season long slump. It Ortiz doesn't get it turned around, expect Johnson to join the Sox and Delcarmen to move to Washington.
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| Nick Johnson was 2-for-4 in Thursday's 5-4 come from behind win over the Pirates. |
Our View: Johnson raised his average to .338 and is having a solid season, which has always been the book on him if he can stay healthy. Unfortunately he never does. He's rumored in trade talks at the moment and might have to get hurt for a new team soon.
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| Nick Johnson is rumored to be on the Nationals' trading block, according to Peter Gammons of ESPN. |
Our View: The Red Sox have been scouting Johnson, but will not part with top pitching prospect Clay Buchholz to acquire the oft-injured first baseman. Washington and Boston have not talked since April as well.
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| Nick Johnson went 1-for-2 with a home run, two runs scored, and three RBI in the Nationals' 3-2 loss to the Pirates. |
Our View: Johnson is hitting an impressive .336 on the year, but his power numbers are not outstanding. He can hit when healthy, so there should be no one surprised at his output so far. His fantasy value is decent, but don't expect a ton of homers or RBI.
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| Nick Johnson went 4-for-5 with two RBI in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Giants. |
Our View: Johnson's average is up to .333 on the season and he's driven in 19 runners this year. Johnson has always had the talent to put up solid numbers, but he can never seem to stay healthy. This season he has and what you see is what you get. He has more fantasy value now than he has in years.
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| Nick Johnson was 3-for-6 with two runs and three RBI in the Nationals 11-9 victory over the Dodgers on Thursday. |
Our View: Johnson has been a pleaasant surprise for the Nats so far this season, and his fantasy value is higher than it has been in a long time. He isn't much of a power threat, but he is a good hitter who can drive in runs when they are out there. His is worth a look in NL-only leagues, but not in mixed leagues yet.
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| Nick Johnson was 2-for-4 with two runs driven in against the Braves on Wednesday. |
Our View: Coming off wrist surgery, Johnson is looking to prove to everyone that he is fully recovered and ready to contribute. He should put up healthy numbers for NL-only leagues and will drive in a fair number of runs for your team.
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| Nick Johnson was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI against the Cardinals on Monday. |
Our View: Seemingly fully recovered from wrist surgery that limited him to 109 ABs a season ago, Johnson will be the guy at first for the Nats in 2009. When healthy, Johnson is a valuable player in NL-only leagues who provides some nice power and can drive in a fair number of runs.
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| Nick Johnson was 1-for-2 with his second home run of the spring in the Nationals 6-4 win over the Mets on Wednesday. He took Mike Pelfrey deep in the first with a runner on. |
Our View: Johnson will seemingly always carry some nice power and seemingly always get injured. He carries as much risk as any player in the game and should only be selected in the latter portion of the reserve rounds in mixed leagues.
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| Nick Johnson blasted his first homer of the year for the Nationals on Sunday, going 1-for-2 overall. He also walked and struck out. |
Our View: Johnson could still be dealt after Washington signed Adam Dunn in the offseason, as he's publicly stated that he doesn't want to be a backup. A bench role wouldn't have mattered for him last year as he only managed to play in 38 games due to injury.
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| Nick Johnson will not accept a bench role with the Nationals, according to MLB.com. Adam Dunn, who is a defensive liability in the outfield, is slated to become Washington's starting first baseman. |
Our View: The Athletics had looked into acquiring Johnson last month, so they could still be a fit for him. They have signed Jason Giambi this offseason, but Giambi will most likely play DH for Oakland so they could still fit Johnson into their lineup.
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| The Athletics are revisiting a trade for Washington first baseman Nick Johnson, according to the Washington Post. |
Our View: A deal was believed to be close at one point last week. It is uncertain who Oakland would have to give up to acquire Johnson, but the Nationals are known to have interest in Daric Barton. Johnson is injury-prone but is solid defensively and held a strong .415 OBP over 38 games in 2008. Jason Giambi would be slated to serve in the DH role with Johnson at first.
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| Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports believes the Athletics may prefer Nick Johnson over Jason Giambi for first base. |
Our View: The club may opt to trade for Johnson from Washington, rather than bring back free agent Giambi. Johnson has a poor track record with durability, and may not be ready for opening day while recovering from June wrist surgery, but the club likes his ability to get on base (held a .415 OBP over 38 games in 2008).
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| Oakland has requested Nick Johnson's medical records, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Johnson underwent season-ending wrist surgery back in June. |
Our View: Oakland is yet to engage in trade talks with Washington, but the West Coast club likes Johnson's ability to get on base (held a .415 OBP in 2008). He may not be ready for opening day.
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| Nick Johnson still isn't fully recovered from surgery on his right wrist to repair a torn tendon, according to MLB.com. He said, "The wrist is getting there. I can do a little bit more now. I do therapy three days a week. I'm starting to push it a lot more. I'm starting to do some stuff under water with the bat. It's real light and I'll work my way up from there. I'm going to take it slow."
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Our View: He still expects to be ready for spring training 2009. He has solid offensive skills, but cannot stay healthy, and the Nationals will consider adding another first baseman on the free agent market.
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| The Nationals don't plan on going into the 2009 season with Nick Johnson and Dimitri Young at first base, according to an interview with GM Jim Bowden in the Washington Post. |
Our View: Duh. Johnson hit .220 in 109 AB and Young has battled diabetes off the field that has limited him to just 150 AB. Any team that would be comfortable with that duo at first base would also be comfortable finishing in last place.
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| Nick Johnson will be in a cast for the next four weeks before starting rehab on his injured right wrist, according to the Wasington Post. |
Our View: Johnson is still out for the remainder of the season, but the team believes he will be ready for spring training next year.
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| Nick Johnson has been transferred to the 60-day DL, according to the AP. |
Our View: In case you missed it, Johnson underwent surgery to repair a tear in a ligament on the ulnar side of his right wrist, hence ending his 2008 campaign.
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| Nick Johnson is done for 2008 following Tuesday's surgery to repair a tear in a ligament on the ulnar side of his wrist, according to the Washington Post. Dr. Richard Berger of the Mayo Clinic performed the surgery. |
Our View: The Nationals stated that Johnson would be 100 percent for spring training 2009. Dmitri Young's value for the remainder of the season goes up.
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| Nick Johnson could be done for the season, according to the Washington Post. Dr. Richard Berger of the Mayo Clinic recommended that Johnson undergo a diagnostic arthroscopy to evaluate ligaments in Johnson's wrist. The surgery will take place on Tuesday. |
Our View: It's possible Johnson could make it back at some point this year, but given his injury history, we're not holding our breath.
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| Nick Johnson will pay a visit to the Mayo Clinic on Monday to figure out why his injured wrist is taking so long to heal, according to the AP. He has been on the DL since May 15 because of a torn tendon in his right wrist. "He still has soreness. We're going to get another opinion to make sure there's nothing else we can do at this point," GM Jim Bowden said. "It's discouraging that he's not any better after all this time." |
Our View: Johnson is no longer in a cast, but the wrist hasn't healed as hoped. We'll let you know how his visit goes.
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| Nick Johnson will have his injured wrist re-evaluated on Tuesday, according to MLB.com. Around two weeks ago, Johnson suffered a setback with his right wrist, as he still felt soreness after the cast was removed. The wrist was then re-cast for another two weeks. |
Our View: He has been on the DL since May 15 due to a torn tendon in his right wrist.
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| Nick Johnson stated that he will not need surgery after tearing the tendon in his right wrist, according to CBSsports.com. |
Our View: The injury should heal without surgery and he isn't expected to miss more than four to six weeks. Johnson is an annual guest of the disabled list, but tends to play well over the second half of the season. He should remain reserved if you have him on your roster.
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| Nick Johnson has been placed on the 15-day DL Thursday with a torn tendon in his right wrist, according to the AP. He is expected to miss four to six weeks with the injury.
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Our View: The injury-prone first baseman missed all of last season with a right leg fracture. He hit five homers over 38 games, but only held a .220 batting average. Dmitri Young will fill his spot at first base while he is out of action.
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| Updating an earlier story, Washington 1B Nick Johnson will in fact miss tonight's game against the New York Mets and is likely to miss tomorrow's game as well, according to the Associated Press. |
Our View: Johnson strained a tendon in his wrist on a swing made on Tuesday night. The MRI results suggest no prolonged concern is present, but Johnson was sent back to Washington and will undergo further testing. We will update with news as needed.
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| Nick Johnson has a strained tendon in his right wrist and is day-to-day. X-rays taken on Tuesday night were negative, the Washington Post notes. |
Our View: Johnson is rarely just "day-to-day" when he's beset by an ailment, but we'll choose to believe it this time. Fantasy owners shouldn't be surprised if he sits on Wednesday.
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| The numbers may not immediately jump from the page, but Washington 1B Nick Johnson contributed a strong effort to the cause in a 6-5 loss to the Houston Astros. Johnson went 1-for-1 with three walks on the evening, making that one swing good for his 5th homer of the season and his 17th RBI. |
Our View: Johnson has been struggling in recent weeks and is hoping this can help him get back on track.
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| Nick Johnson hit a first inning two-run home run into the second deck of the right field seats in Friday night's victory over the Cubs. It was the first home run to reach the second deck of Nationals Park since it opened this season. |
Our View: Johnson has been in a funk as of late. Entering Friday's game the left-hander was hitting a soft .209 with two home runs, 12 RBI and seven runs scored.
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| Nick Johnson continues to struggle at the plate as he went 0-for-4 to lower his average to just .209. For those of you keeping track that's 5-straight games without a hit for Johnson during which time he is 0-for-16 with five K. |
Our View: It's not surprising he is struggling given that he missed last year, but at this point he appears lost so store him on your bench and hope he turns it around soon or you might consider using the roster spot on someone who could actually help your ballclub.
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| Nick Johnson had a big night on Friday as he drove in four runs thanks to two hits against the Marlins. |
Our View: Johnson is only hitting .275 so far this year, but the best news is that he is healthy and has already played in 17 games on the year. With Dimitri Young still dealing with health issues, look for Johnson to continue to pile up the AB.
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| Nick Johnson doubled and drove in a run for the Nationals in a 4-3 loss to the Florida on Thursday night. The Nats losing streak reached seven games after being swept by the first place Marlins. Johnson came into the three game finale hitting .267 with a home run and four RBI. |
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| Nick Johnson went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI on Saturday for the Nationals. Johnson is now hitting .368 through 19 AB, and with each solid outing the chances of Dimitri Young picking up at-bats continues to dwindle. It's too early to say that Johnson is back, but don't overlook the fact that Johnson hit .290-23-77-100 in his last healthy season (2006) if you are in need of a bat off waivers. |
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| Nick Johnson is riding the pine against the Phillies on Thursday, according to the Washington Post. Manager Manny Acta had this to say about the move, "The matchup is not good for anybody with this guy. He gets out the three of them. Dmitri has a little bit of success against him. Boone needs to get some at-bats, too. I'm not going to run Nick down just because we're 3-0. The guy's coming back from that injury. He never played three games in a row a full nine innings in spring training. It's the first week of the season. Day after night game. So we got to try to keep everybody involved." He was referring to left handed pitcher Jamie Moyer, and Aaron Boone has been penciled in at first base.
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| Nick Johnson's tiebreaking double off veteran right-hander Tom Gordon started a five-run ninth inning and the Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 11-6 Monday. Johnson will become a mixed league option fast if he continues to hit like he has in the first two National games. |
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| Nick Johnson has beaten out Dmitri Young as the starting first baseman, and proved he was the right choice as he went 1-for-3 (double) with an RBI in the Nationals' 3-2 win over the Braves in the season opener on Sunday night. Johnson should continue to improve this season. |
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| Nick Johnson has been named the Nationals starting first baseman, this according to ESPN's Baseball Tonight. The oft-injured veteran won out over Dmitri Young by default. Young participated in very little spring work. |
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| Nick Johnson started at first during the the team's two game road swing and is the front runner to be the opening day starter for the Nats, this according to the Washington Post. Dmitri Young didn't make the road trip and remained at the training facility nursing a nagging back injury. When both are healthy, they figure to share time. |
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| National skipper Manny Acta told the Washington Post that he had made a decision about the starting first base job, but he is not going to announce it today, or tomorrow. Nats beat writer, Barry Svrluga, said in his blog, "If it's not Nick Johnson , I'll eat my hat. Or one of my hats." Johnson and Dmitri Young figure to both get time at first base this year, and with Johnson's history of finding the disabled list, offering him a roster spot on your NL-only fantasy team comes with some baggage. |
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| Nick Johnson had a single in Friday's 4-1 loss to Florida. What's the big deal, you say? Well, it's the first base hit Johnson's had in over 17 months. The first baseman is coming back from a lengthy rehab from a broken leg and is trying to beat Dmitri Young out for the starting job. One of the two players could be traded by opening day. |
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| Nick Johnson feels that his injured leg has sufficiently healed to the point where he shouldn't be limited on the field in 2008 according to a report on MLB.com. "I want to play every day," Johnson said. There might be one problem with that declaration. First base just so happens to be the position of Dimitri Young who was arguably the Nationals best hitter last season (.320-13-74). Neither player is particularly athletic, so the only way for both to get 500 AB this year would likely mean one of them would need to be traded. |
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| Nick Johnson finally has no remaining physical limitations after a series of surgeries on his broken right leg, and he'll battle Dmitri Young for the first base job this spring. "Nick, even when Soriano was here, was the most productive player we had because of his on-base percentage," manager Manny Acta said. "That prolongs innings, prolongs games. It wins games. It's huge. He has so much value for us." It will be interesting to see how things shake out this spring, since Johnson and Young can't play anywhere other than first and they're both well paid. |
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| Nick Johnson wants to show up at spring training 2008 in shape. "For sure, I'm going to drop weight," he tells the Washington Post. "You won't be seeing that 260 [pounds], I can tell you that." Johnson has hired a chef to help him get below 240, where he has played in the past. He missed the entire 2007 season after breaking his right leg on September 23, 2006 and undergoing a series of surgeries. |
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| Nick Johnson underwent surgery on Tuesday to have a rod and screw removed from his right leg. The team described the operation as "uneventful," according to the Washington Post. Johnson will not be able to run for two months. |
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| Nationals GM Jim Bowden said Thursday that Nick Johnson will have another surgery on his right leg and will not play in 2007, according to the AP. "We just couldn't quite get over the hump with his hip," Bowden said. "He couldn't quite get to the ground ball to his left. His hitting has come along great. There was no question in our mind that he made tremendous progress offensively. But it just wasn't allowing him to be Nick Johnson. You've got to have the hip in baseball." Johnson broke his right femur in a collision with Austin Kearns during a game against the Mets last September. |
Our View: If this surgery doesn't improve things, Johnson's career could be in jeopardy.
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| Nick Johnson's status for the rest of the season remains up in the air. If he can't heal quickly enough to get in a rehab assignment before the minor league season wraps up, it's unlikely that he will play for the Nats, according to the Washington Post. "I really, really don't want to put Nick out there just for the sake of putting him out there so he can say he did play in 2007," manager Manny Acta said. "If he doesn't have enough at-bats in some type of rehab assignment and he's not ready to play somewhat at this level up here, we're just going to shut him down." Johnson's still recovering slowly from a broken right leg that has resulted in a painful hip issue. Unless he makes quick progress in the next couple of weeks, he likely won't play until next season. |
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| Nick Johnson got a cortisone shot Monday to dull pain in his right hip that developed while working his way back from a broken leg that has sidelined him since late last season, according to the AP. Johnson will do only upper-body work until Thursday, when he will be allowed to resume exercises and drills involving his legs. |
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| Nick Johnson, who has missed the entire season while recovering from a broken right leg, will undergo a nerve test in New York during the All-Star break to determine the cause of persistent pain in his right hip, according to the AP. "I don't want it to keep lingering on. I want to see why the pain in there," Johnson said. |
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| Nick Johnson will have his right hip examined by a specialist on Friday. He's still recovering from a broken right femur and has been dealing with a sore hip, according to the AP. "It's not a setback at all," said Washington manager Manny Acta. "It's normal. You broke one part of your body and you start favoring that part and some other part's going to get sore." When healthy, Johnson can produce, but he has yet to suit up this season and has no timetable for a return at this point. More should be known after his examination on Friday. |
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| Nick Johnson continues to rehab slowly from a fractured femur he suffered last September, the AP reports. "His running is OK when he's under way," manager Manny Acta said. "But it still bothers him starting, stopping, turning, etc." |
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| Nick Johnson has been taking batting practice from manager Manny Acta. "He looks like he's ready to play ... (but) it will take awhile," Acta told the AP. Johnson is recovering from a broken leg. |
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| Nick Johnson still does not have a timetable for his return. Johnson fractured his right leg last September. He has been taking grounders and swinging in a cage, but he has yet to take live batting practice or gone full-out in fielding, according to the Washington Post. "It feels good," Johnson explains. "Getting stronger. It's in between. Sometimes, it's not pain, just a feeling like it's weak but that I'm pushing it, getting it better." |
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| Nick Johnson fielded grounders for about 10 minutes before the game Friday night against Florida, according to the AP. It's the first time he's worked in the field since breaking his right leg in September. "It's still pretty sore going to my backhand. And even going to my other side, that's bad. Just moving around today, I felt it," said Johnson, who began hitting off a tee last week. |
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| Nick Johnson, still recovering from a broken leg, is scheduled to travel with the team on its six-game trip so he can continue his rehabilitation with head athletic trainer Lee Kuntz, the Washington Post reports. Johnson is throwing and running, but still hasn't hit in a batting cage. |
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| Nick Johnson advanced his rehab from a broken leg yesterday by sprinting up steps, according to the Washington Post. "Medically, the fracture has healed," Nats orthopedist Ben Shaffer said by phone. "Right now, the issue is getting him into baseball shape, having him get his skills back. I don't know, from a timetable standpoint, what the date will be. But we're not looking at this as a season-threatening issue." |
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| Nick Johnson isn't sure when he'll be fully recovered from the broken right leg that ended his 2006 season, according to the AP. He said that June might be the best-case scenario. "But I won't know until I start hitting, running, getting on the field. It's hard to make a prediction now," he added. A few minutes later, he referred to the June estimate again: "That's in my head, but I just threw it out there. I don't know." |
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| Nick Johnson had two screws removed from his right femur yesterday, according to the Washington Post. It still doesn't look like Johnson will be ready for the start of the season. |
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| Nick Johnson still has a limp, as he favors his surgically repaired right leg, according to the Washington Post. Nationals officials, medical staff and Johnson don't sound like they expect him to be ready for opening day, and he could miss the first month of the season. "The bottom line is I'm not looking for him on Day One," said team orthopedist Ben Shaffer, "The fact is, he's such an important guy to the organization, the focus here has to be on complete recovery and getting him back when he and his body are ready. I'm going to target that for May 1 -- and if he makes progress that's exponential, then fantastic." |
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| Nick Johnson underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Tuesday, according to the AP. He's expected to be ready for spring training. |
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| Nick Johnson underwent successful surgery Sunday to repair his broken right leg, according to the AP. Johnson broke his leg in a collision in Saturday's game. "In a two-hour procedure, a titanium rod was inserted into Nick's fractured right femur," said Nationals team orthopedist Dr. Ben Shaffer, who assisted with the surgery. "The surgery went well. He is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for 2007 spring training." |
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| Nick Johnson broke his right leg in an outfield collision during the eighth inning Saturday, the Nationals official site reports. He's scheduled to have surgery Saturday night in New York. Ironically this injury capped Johnson's most complete season yet, as he made it over 500 at-bats for the first time and set career highs in almost every offensive category. |
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| Nick Johnson was not in the starting lineup Sunday and wasn't available as a pinch-hitter, either, according to the AP. He suffered a cervical strain on Saturday when he collided with Atlanta's Jeff Francoeur. The Nationals are off Monday and manager Frank Robinson said he wasn't sure if Johnson would play Tuesday against Philadelphia. |
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| Nick Johnson had to leave Saturday's game in the sixth inning after colliding with Jeff Francouer, according to the AP. He was diagnosed with a cervical strained and currently is listed as being day-to-day. |
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