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Rays drop Game 162 hero Dan Johnson

Tampa Bay Rays' Dan Johnson hits a ninth inning home run with New York Yankees catcher Austin Romine at right during their American League MLB baseball game in St. Petersburg

Tampa Bay Rays’ Dan Johnson hits a ninth inning home run with New York Yankees catcher Austin Romine at right during their American League MLB baseball game in St. Petersburg, Florida, September 28, 2011. REUTERS/Steve Nesius (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

REUTERS

Dan Johnson saved Tampa Bay’s season with his homer in Game 162, but the first baseman was left off the playoff roster and yesterday the Rays outrighted him from the 40-man roster.

Johnson refused an assignment to Triple-A and is now a free agent at age 32.

Aside from the dramatic Game 162 homer against the Yankees Johnson hasn’t had much success--or much playing time, period--in the majors recently, hitting just .167 in 82 total games since 2008.

However, prior to that he a was a productive regular for the A’s and Johnson has batted .288 with 43 homers in 191 games at Triple-A between 2010 and 2011. He’d be a useful role player on quite a few teams, but Johnson will probably have to settle for a minor-league deal and try to hit his way back to the majors.