CHICAGO (Ticker) -- It appears Charles Johnson will be around long enough to play in the Florida Marlins' new ballpark.

ESPN Radio 1000 is reporting today that the Marlins are set to announce the signing of the veteran catcher to a five-year, $35 million contract.

The Marlins have scheduled a news conference for 4:00 p.m. EST today at Pro Player Stadium.

It would be the second major announcement in as many days for the franchise. On Sunday, plans were revealed for a new retractable-roof stadium to be built for the team in downtown Miami.

Johnson, who split the 2000 season between Baltimore and the Chicago White Sox, would be returning to a team for which he played parts of five seasons (1994-98), during which time he captured three straight National League Gold Glove awards.

Arguably the best defensive catcher in the game not named Ivan Rodriguez, the 29-year-old Johnson made the NL All-Star team in 1997, when he also helped the fifth-year Marlins win the World Series. He had a homer and three RBI against Cleveland in the Fall Classic.

A native of Fort Pierce, Florida who played collegiately at Miami, Johnson appeared in 128 game last season, posting career highs in batting average (.304), homers (31) and RBI (91). He was traded by the Orioles along with designated hitter Harold Baines to the White Sox on July 29.

In Chicago's three-game Division Series loss to the Seatttle Mariners, Johnson went 3-for-9 (.333).

Johnson won the NL Gold Glove in 1995, 1996 and 1997, but the Marlins, in the midst of breaking up their championship team, traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers in mid-May.

Johnson played in 102 games for Los Angeles and in the offseason was sent to Baltimore as part of a three-way trade with the New York Mets.

In 741 career games, Johnson owns a lifetime average of .249 with 110 homers and 346 RBI.