1:37pm: Johnson will be a free agent, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com tweets. Baltimore hopes to sign him to a minor league deal, however, while he continues to rehab his shoulder.
1:12pm: The Orioles have outrighted right-hander Steve Johnson, the club announced. With the move, Baltimore has opened a 40-man roster spot.
Johnson, 27, did not see any time at the MLB level this year after receiving brief stints in each of the last two seasons. In total, he owns a 3.67 ERA over 54 big league innings. Johnson struggled mightily this year at Triple-A, allowing 7.11 earned runs per nine over 13 starts (over which he lasted just 38 innings).
Control issues were the primary culprit, as Johnson issued more than seven free passes per nine innings after never coming close to that mark in prior years. Of course, underlying that may well have been the presence of a significant bone spur in his throwing shoulder, which was ultimately removed surgically.
Real bulldog on the mound. Too bad he had the injury problems he did. I think he can be a major league pitcher, either back end starter or long man, but with the improved O’s pitching staff he wasn’t going to get a chance. Shame, too, because he’s a local and his dad pitched for the O’s back in the day. Would have been a nice story if he had been a success.
I definitely would have liked to have seen what he could have done taking Matusz’ place in the bullpen but I’m wondering if that’s where they might put Bundy next season instead.
I really think Bundy gets more time in the minors next year. With the surplus of major league pitching there is no reason to rush Bundy and burn arb years.
I can see both sides to the Bundy argument. On one hand, I can see them possibly starting him out in Norfolk at the beginning of the season and bringing him up later or pending on what happens during arbitration and free agency, maybe get him in the bullpen since he’ll likely have an innings limit attached to him next season. I think Buck and Dan will try to do what’s best for him and the team because if he’s an asset coming out of the pen for example, they’re not going to worry at all about arbitration when it comes to him.
Johnson gave the O’s some really good innings towards the end of 2012. Seems like he hasn’t been healthy since, it’s too bad for him. He really knows how to pitch.
This is a quality guy to drop. It makes me think they’re making room for a move soon. I think they’re trying to sneak Johnson through, while the playoffs are still on, hoping no one nabs him. On paper he’s 27 and coming off a AAA season where he never got it on because of injury. It’s not the kind of guy you notice unless you are paying close attention. The biggest upcoming roster question will be Parker Bridwell for Rule V.