Beginning of the end for Johnson in Florida - MLB

After reaching an impasse regarding
a contract extension for Josh Johnson, his agent Matt Sosnick was
rather blunt about the 25-year-old’s future in Florida during an interview with MLB.com on Saturday.

“As far as
our feelings are concerned, and I feel very strongly that this is true,
that Josh either signs a long-term deal now with the Marlins, which is
not going to happen, or he gets traded after this year and the Marlins
can get some value back.”

Though Sosnick didn’t specify the
financial terms of the negotiations, he did reveal that he Marlins
would only guarantee three years with an option for a fourth year.

According to a separate report in the Palm Beach Post, the Marlins weren’t even willing to go beyond three years and $22 million, which, if true, is one of the worst low-ball offers in recent memory. Just for kicks, a quick visit to Fangraphs will tell you that Johnson was worth $24.6 million in 2009 alone.

Even Zack Greinke’s four-year, $38
million contract, the one Johnson’s camp was reportedly using as a
framework for a deal, would have been a significant discount compared to what he
could have made elsewhere.

Johnson is under team control
through 2011, but look for him to be wearing a different uniform before then.

CARSON CITY, Nev. — The Nevada Senate adjourned Thursday without voting on a financing bill for a proposed $1.5 billion Las Vegas Strip stadium for the Oakland Athletics, extending the special legislative session into the next week amid negotiations over whether to contribute $380 million in public funding to the project.

The measure can still be amended by lawmakers, and if it passes the Senate it would still need approval from the Assembly before going to the desk of Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, who has expressed support for it. Both the state Senate and Assembly are adjourned until Monday.

In a hearing that began Wednesday and stretched into the early morning hours Thursday, lawmakers peppered tourism officials and a representative from a firm partnering with the ball club with questions about the feasibility and benefits of financing such a deal.

Public funds for the stadium would mainly come from $180 million in transferable tax credits and $120 million in county bonds. Backers have pledged that the creation of a special tax district around the proposed stadium would generate enough money to pay off those bonds and interest. The plan would not directly raise taxes.

The A’s would not owe property taxes for the publicly owned stadium. Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, would also contribute $25 million in credit toward infrastructure costs.

A’s representatives and some tourism officials say a deal would further grow Las Vegas’ developing sports scene and act as an economic engine, but a growing chorus of economists and some lawmakers warn that the project would bring minimal benefits for the hefty public price tag.