Newcomer Johnson fits right in with Cubs

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Neither the Cubs nor Reed Johnson wasted any time.

After clearing waivers at 10 a.m., Johnson signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Cubs later Tuesday morning.

Johnson, who was released over the weekend by the Toronto Blue Jays, arrived at HoHoKam Park in the morning and was in the starting lineup in center field against the San Francisco Giants. He went 2-for-5, with a double and a stolen base in the Cubs' 7-5 victory.

"I had to get it all out of me," Johnson said. "I really hadn't played since Friday."

General manager Jim Hendry said all winter he wanted to add a right-handed hitting center fielder to share time with Felix Pie.

"We're really happy to have him," Hendry said. "We've been working on guys in the outfield for a while, and all of a sudden, probably the best fit in a lot ways kind of fell in our laps. It worked out really well.

"We've always liked him. In fact, I tried to acquire him a few times from Toronto. Really, a hard-nosed player, extremely good hitter, especially against left-handed pitching."

Johnson seems to bring the Cubs what they like and what they need. They like his "grit" factor, and they could use his on-base percentage.

The 31-year-old Johnson has a lifetime batting average of .281 and a career OBP of .342 over parts of five seasons with Toronto. Against left-handed pitching, Johnson has batted .308 with a .371 OBP.

In 2006, Johnson turned in a .390 OBP. His 2007 season was cut short by surgery to correct a herniated disc in his lower back, which he says is fine now.

He seems just as happy to be with the Cubs as they are to have him. Hendry said it took about 10 minutes for the two sides to agree to a deal.

"You guys don't know how happy I am to be here," Johnson said. "I made a comment to Jim, and I made a comment to (Cubs scouting director) Tim Wilken also that I've always thought that Boston wins the World Series and the White Sox win the World Series, and this is one of the only teams left that hasn't done it.

"I've always thought, even since I started playing baseball, to be a part of something like that, there's nothing else I'd rather want."

Johnson fondly remembers a huge series against the Cubs in 2003, when he hit 3 homers in three games, including 2 in the series finale.

"People ask me my memorable moments, and I think that's one of my memorable moments, being able to help your team to victory like that," he said. "And a walk-off home run, there's no other feeling like that."

Cubs manager Lou Piniella did not directly answer whether Johnson and Pie would platoon.

"He's going to get playing time," Piniella said of Johnson. "I've got to rest the kid in right field (Kosuke Fukudome) from time to time, too. There's going to be some playing time for him. He's a hard-nosed kid that likes to play that's had a nice major-league career, and we're fortunate to get him here at the end of spring training."

Johnson's arrival crowds the bench picture. He joins catcher Henry Blanco and first baseman-outfielder Daryle Ward as "in." Battling for the other two jobs are outfielder Matt Murton and infielders Ronny Cedeno, Mike Fontenot and nonroster man Alex Cintron.

Cedeno is out of minor-league options, so the Cubs likely will keep him. They may favor an extra infielder, and Piniella seems to like Fontenot's bat.