Brian

Johnson

Johnson, 30, holds a 4.74 ERA over 65 appearances -- 26 starts -- at the major league level. He had been pitching with the independent league Milwaukee Milkmen.

Johnson apparently requested his release, and it has been granted. Previous reports suggested that the 29-year-old left-hander was preparing to opt out of the remainder of the 2020 season after he left the Red Sox alternate training site in Pawtucket and returned to his offseason home in Florida, but he could now try to latch on with a new team. Johnson posted a 4.74 ERA across 171 total innings with Boston between 2015-2019.

Johnson has indeed left the Red Sox alternate training site and returned home to Florida, but not because he is prepared to announce a decision to opt out. Cotillo hears that an “official transaction is TBD” while adding that “it appears” Johnson’s time in Boston is coming to an end regardless. There’s clearly more to the story here.

The speculation is that he could opt out of the season. Johnson just threw 5 1/3 innings in a simulated game on Friday and represented starting depth for Boston moving forward. Odds are he would have pitched in the majors this season, though he would need to be added to the 40-man roster.

The 29-year-old left-hander already seemed assured of a rotation spot after Chris Sale underwent Tommy John surgery in March, and Eduardo Rodriguez’s ongoing absence from summer camp due to COVID-19 has further improved Johnson’s standing. But, even with a locked-in starting role, there’s not much fantasy appeal here. Johnson struggled to a 6.02 ERA and 31/23 K/BB ratio over 40 1/3 innings with Boston in 2019.

Even with the regular season delayed indefinitely, Sale won’t be pitching for the Red Sox in 2020 after he undergoes Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery. Johnson was removed from the 40-man roster in November, but stayed in the organization, and has some starting experience for the Red Sox. Weber, meanwhile, started three games for Boston in 2019 and struggled to a 5.09 ERA in his 40 2/3 innings. Neither pitcher is anything close to Sale, and it’s hard to imagine either having much fantasy relevance, even in AL-only formats.

Johnson was removed from Boston’s 40-man roster in November, but he’s definitely back in the mix for a rotation spot this spring as a result of the David Price trade and Chris Sale injury. The team would probably prefer not to have to turn to him initially; he’s out of options, so if he makes the team and subsequently needs to be sent down at some point, he’d have to go back on waivers and he could opt for free agency.

Johnson didn’t allow a hit and picked up a strikeout. The left-hander was designated for assignment by Boston at the end of the season, but he’s still with the Red Sox organization, and has an outside chance of winning a spot on the pitching staff to begin the year. His role won’t have fantasy significance if/when he does.

Johnson was designated for assignment by Boston this past Monday and passed through waivers unclaimed. The 28-year-old left-hander registered a hideous 6.02 ERA, 1.88 WHIP, and 31/23 K/BB ratio over 40 1/3 innings (seven starts, 14 relief appearances) for the Red Sox during the 2019 season.

If Johnson isn’t claimed, the Red Sox will non-tender the soon-to-be 29-year-old. The left-hander struggled with injuries in 2019 and wasn’t effective when he was healthy with a 6.02 ERA in 40 1/3 innings. Some team could give Johnson a chance to be a member of their bullpen -- or possibly rotation -- but there’s just as much risk as there is reward.