The Tribe is reportedly on the verge of signing Nick Johnson. Now here's a deal that makes some sense, even if it's not a world-beater. First, it's a minor league deal, no one's getting shuttled off the roster for Johnson, who may very well be starting the season on the 60-day DL even if he were on the 40-man. Second, there's no sense in pretending there's not a gigantic question mark playing first for the Indians this year. If Johnson can play the field (and setting aside the collision with the Indians' current left fielder, he's not found a way to get hurt doing that), he's a decent reserve option, even if he's more punchless than what you'd like from a first baseman. Even with the dearth of power, though, the guy still churns out great OPS+ numbers because you just can't keep him off first base (career OBP is .401).
Will this work out? Almost certainly not -- he can't swing a bat even though his surgery was in May of last year, he's had back issues, and he was considered a DH-only player when the Yankees signed him last year. But could the Tribe have added a possible DH to spell Hafner and a first baseman who can get on at a .380 clip and maybe rediscover a power stroke for 20 doubles? Yes. And when the only other "first baseman" the Tribe has is catcher Carlos Santana, it doesn't hurt to have Johnson around, because Santana can't be an every day guy when the Indians don't have any catching in the high minors pipeline (or 40-man roster).
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