Miami Herald: Agent sees big bucks ahead for (Josh) Johnson

Don’t think the New York Yankees weren’t watching Josh Johnson with great interest Saturday. Not the befuddled Yankees hitters, who squeezed out a run during the seven innings Johnson was on the hill—but the big boys upstairs, the Hank Steinbrenners and Brian Cashmans.

They know unless the Marlins lock up Johnson before his arbitration years expire after the 2011 season, he probably won’t be around to make the Opening Day start for the Marlins when their new ballpark opens in 2012. He’ll be gone, either through free agency or via a trade as the Marlins look to recoup value for him.

Think the Marlins would offer Johnson a five-year deal totaling $82.5 million, the one Saturday’s loser, A.J. Burnett, struck with the Yankees over the winter? Or a seven-year deal worth $161 million, the contract Sunday’s starter, C.C. Sabathia, signed before the season?

Johnson’s agent, Matt Sosnick, thinks that is what it will take to keep Johnson.

“The way that I think Josh needs to be valued is somewhere between Burnett’s contract and Sabathia’s contract, and probably closer to Sabathia’s,” Sosnick said Saturday. “Josh is that guy in two years.”