3:40pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Cubs are "showing the heaviest interest" in Johnson. Johnson does make sense for the Cubs, playing center when the team faces a lefty. It might hold Felix Pie back slightly, but it’s a win-now move.
Rosenthal says the Red Sox, Rays, and Rangers are the other teams in on Johnson. It’s definitely surprising to see the Sox and Rangers in the mix as neither club is light on outfielders.
9:40am: If 31 year-old outfielder Reed Johnson clears release waivers, he’s going to be a hot commodity. Already, the expected three teams have been named as possibilities in their respective newspapers.
- On Sunday, Joel Sherman characterized the Mets’ interest as "mild at best." Bart Hubbuch says the Mets are interested but quotes Omar Minaya as saying the Mets will go with internal options.
- Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald says the Cubs have interest in Johnson, noting that Jim Hendry is likely to make an acquisition this week. Jeff DaVanon is another (less likely) option. Gordon Wittenmyer says the Cubs would have interest in Johnson if he clears release waivers.
- Joe Smith connects the Rays to Johnson and DaVanon, though only in speculation.
- I asked ESPN’s Keith Law how Johnson handled center field. He said: "I haven’t seen him since the injury, but he could play it every day when I was with Toronto, and he has a plus arm."
