ere anyway. He knows the system, so

[xsw96]

ATLANTA -- Braves third baseman Chris Johnson gets to keep his dream job for another three years. Atlanta was the team he cheered for while growing up in South Florida, and he idolized third baseman Chipper Jones. "In this game, not many times does a team tell a player they want him to be around for a really long time," Johnson said. "Im excited they feel that way about me and have the confidence in me to be around for a little while. Now I just want to work as hard as I can to prove theyre right." After agreeing to a $23.5 million, three-year deal announced Friday, Johnson is under contract through 2017. The 29-year-old was among the teams biggest surprises last season. A supposed throw-in to the Justin Upton trade, Johnson ranked second in the NL with a .321 average. He had 12 homers and 68 RBIs. His agreement continued Atlantas recent trend of signing a core of players to long-term deals. First baseman Freddie Freeman ($135 million over eight years), closer Craig Kimbrel ($42 million over four years), pitcher Julio Teheran ($32.4 million over six years) and shortstop Andrelton Simmons ($58 million over seven years) agreed to long-term deals before or during spring training, and right fielder Jason Heyward struck a $13.3 million, two-year deal. General manager Frank Wren said Johnsons agent approached the team early last month to see whether the sides could work out a new deal. Wren said the Braves arent placing unrealistic expectations on their third baseman. Johnson is off to a slow start, hitting .255 with one homer and four RBIs in 26 games. "I think what we saw last year -- maybe hes not going to hit .320, but weve always felt he was somewhere in the .280-.300 range as a hitter," Wren said. "His career will tell you that." In the first 304 games of his career with Houston and Arizona, Johnson hit .276 and averaged eight homers and 43 RBIs. "I think as we go forward," Wren said, "thats the kind of player he can be -- somewhere in that .285-.300 range -- and hit 10-15 home runs, drive in 70 and play solid third base." Johnson was part of the trade that brought Upton, a slugging left fielder, to Atlanta and sent fan favourite Martin Prado, pitcher Randall Delgado and three minor leaguers to Arizona on Jan. 24 last year. "Theres not many people that are going to be traded with him that arent going to be the other guy, " Johnson said. "But Im fine with that. Its good because it doesnt bother me really to be the other guy. It kind of gave me the fire to prove I need to be here and was not just a name in the trade." Johnson is making $4.75 million this season under a one-year deal. The agreement includes salaries of $6 million next year, $7.5 million in 2016 and $9 million in 2017. Atlanta has a $10 million option for 2018 with a $1 million buyout. Wren is grateful that Liberty Media, the Braves owner, has committed the money to keep another part of the core group together as the team prepares to move into a new ballpark in suburban Cobb County in 2017. "You have to be careful," Wren said. "You have to have that combination of players and especially what we did all winter was looking at really high level young talent that was either pre-arbitration or first-year arbitration and extending them. It fits into that mould." Johnson, who would have been eligible for free agency after the 2016 season, met Jones was he played for Stetson and Jones father Larry was an assistant coach with the school. Johnson never imagined he would replace Jones the year after the longtime Braves star retired after the 2012 season. "Its nuts," he said. "Its crazy. I cant believe it. Its awesome, but Im going to try to make sure I keep grinding and keep working and try to get better every day." Abry Jones Jersey . Vonn punctuated her near-perfect season in perfect fashion Friday, earning her fourth overall World Cup title with a dominating giant slalom victory. Mychal Rivera Jersey . Louis Blues, having added Ryan Miller and Steve Ott from Buffalo, remain the No. http://www.jaguarsfansclub.com/Black-Ja ... ml?cat=974. Boston is making its first appearance in the ALCS since 2008. For Detroit, its a third straight trip to the ALCS and its fourth in eight years. Patrick Omameh Jersey .J. -- Fabian Johnson scored his first international goal and Clint Dempsey doubled the lead after a defensive lapse as the United States beat Turkey 2-1 Sunday in the second of three World Cup warm-up matches for the Americans before they head to Brazil. Dawuane Smoot Jersey . Torres scored the first goal by an English team in the knockout phase of the Champions League this season when he met Cezar Azpilicuetas cutback in the ninth minute of their first leg match in the last 16. But Chelsea failed to make the most of its counterattacks and the Turkish champions equalized in the second half after gaining in confidence and cutting out their defensive mistakes.Alan Shearer believes Gareth Southgate has got the best chance of landing the England managers job on a full-time basis. Southgate is preparing to take charge of first England match against Malta on Saturday at Wembley since being appointed as interim manager following the departure of Sam Allardyce.The 46-year-old will remain in control of first-team affairs for a further three matches and Sky Sports News HQ understand the FA will not begin the recruitment process for a new permanent England manager until after the friendly match with Spain on November 15. Former England captain Alan Shearer believes Southgates experience in the under-21 set-up will stand him in good stead He [Southgate] has got the best interview of anyone because hes there, hes got the job he wants and hopefully he can go and get the results and stake a great claim for the job. But he has to decide that, Shearer told Sky Sports News HQ. Southgate, who has won 27 of his 34 matches as England U21 manager, refused to rule himself out of contention to become the long-term successor to Allardyce when asked about the role on Monday. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ï¿¡6.dddddddddddd99. No contract. He previously said in the summer he felt he lacked the experience to become England manager after being linked with the vacancy following Roy Hodgsons departure.But Shearer added: Hell love it and hell bring honesty, integrity and enthusiasm. Jamie Vardy, Jordan Henderson and Wayne Rooney train ahead of Englands World Cup qualifier against Malta Hell know a lot of the players anyway because of working with the under-21s, he was at St Georges Park when the full team were working there anyway. He knows the system, so Im hopeful that he can do very well.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the Japan Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! Also See: England axe was wake-up call Rooney may not break record Walker: We have Plan B now Stones: Rooney key for England China Jerseys Wholesale China NFL Jerseys Jerseys NFL Cheap China Jerseys Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Cheap Jerseys 2019 Discount NFL Jerseys ' ' '