Former Cub Reed Johnson Signs with the Los Angeles Dodgers

While the deal isn't official until he passes a physical, the Los Angeles Dodgers have signed former Cubs outfielder Reed Johnson.

The main reason the Cubs didn't re-sign Johnson is that he was looking for a starting job. Meanwhile, he apparently was willing to change his mind for a team playing in California, but not for the Cubs.

With the Dodgers, he will be backing up starters Manny Ramirez, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier.

There is no question that Johnson would have helped the Cubs, assuming he is healthy. His career average against left-handed pitching is pretty good, so a platoon split would make sense.

Xavier Nady, who is coming off of TJ surgery for the second time, something that is unprecedented among position players, was recently signed by Jim Hendry to be the fourth outfielder.

If Nady is healthy, I would almost rather have him in right field than the disappointing Kosuke Fukudome. At the very least, he should start against all left-handed pitching.

Meanwhile, the loss of Johnson continues to ravage the team's chemistry.

While talent wins games, and there is much debate over the value of teams getting along, there have been players on the team who have decried the loss of Kerry Wood, Mark DeRosa and now Reed Johnson.

In fact, only recently, Ted Lilly said that the Cubs needed to re-sign Johnson. Oops.

For every team like the early 70's Oakland A's, who fought like hell, there have been many teams who have suggested that their success was due, in part, to chemistry.

If that's true, then at least the departure of Milton Bradley should help. While it was a bad baseball trade, as Bradley is much more likely to turn it around than Carlos Silva,  apparently Hendry felt it necessary.

It won't be the difference between a contending team and an also-ran, but it is a disturbing trend. Hendry is gambling on chemistry not being so important.

Let's hope he wins that bet.