Johnson will return to the Texans. Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images.
Ian Rapoport is reporting that David Johnson will accept a pay cut and play with the Texans in 2021. Johnson is a reminder to many Texans fans of what they got in return for Pro Bowl WR DeAndre Hopkins, along with a couple of draft picks. Many fans would like to see the team go younger at the position, but Houston will bring Johnson back for at least one more season.
Here's what I think this move really signifies
Personally, I think this decision has more to do with saving face and not wanting the DeAndre Hopkins trade to look like an even bigger disaster. Cutting Johnson after one season would have clearly made the trade look even worse. However, his $4.25 million deal isn't a terrible value, but I was hoping Houston would look to find a player with more upside and juice at the position.
But with the Texans' lack of draft capital, the team won't have to prioritize the position early in the draft or in free agency. Also, veteran RBs often have a tough time finding a team with many GMs looking to go with younger options that don't cost as much. Meaning, Johnson is better off taking less money and knowing that he won't have to look for another team at the age of 29.
Source: The #Texans have agreed to terms on a new contract for RB David Johnson, with his one-year deal worth up to $6M with $4.25M fully guaranteed at signing. Johnson stays in Houston.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 2, 2021
José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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