Left-hander Brian Johnson, who had been pitching for the Milwaukee Milkmen of the independent American Association, has signed a minor league pact with the Angels, per an announcement from the Milkmen (Twitter link).
Johnson, now 30 years old, was the No. 31 overall draft pick by the Red Sox back in 2012 and rated as one of the organization’s top pitching prospects over the next six years. The lefty dealt with shoulder, hip and elbow injuries throughout his time with the Sox, however, which combined to limit his effectiveness. He was a serviceable option with the Red Sox from 2017-18 before struggling in 2019 and ultimately going unclaimed on waivers. Boston released him in 2020, after the left-hander pitched to a 4.74 ERA in parts of four seasons at the MLB level (171 innings).
Johnson made just two appearance for the Milkmen this season, during which time he hurled five shutout innings with seven hits, no walks and eight strikeouts. He’ll presumably head to the Angels’ Salt Lake affiliate in Triple-A — a level at which he’s pitched to a 3.21 ERA with a 20.2 percent strikeout rate and a 9.0 percent walk rate over the life of 278 innings.
The Angels have had far better health in the organization in 2021 than they have in recent years. Reliever Luke Bard is currently the only pitcher on the Major League injured list for the Halos, but many of their veteran arms have struggled. Jose Quintana (7.22) and Dylan Bundy (6.68) have career-worst ERA marks, while Griffin Canning (5.07), Andrew Heaney (4.45) and Alex Cobb (4.41) have more passable but still-underwhelming results. Cobb, in particular, has had some poor luck in terms of balls in play and stranding runners, though his 21.2 K-BB% and 60.6 percent grounder rate are both excellent.
Johnson adds yet another experienced left-handed arm to an Angels organization that is deep in southpaw options. In addition to Quintana and Heaney, the club currently has Patrick Sandoval, Tony Watson, Alex Claudio and Jose Suarez on the MLB roster. Dillon Peters and Jose Quijada are both on the 40-man roster but currently in Triple-A, while Thomas Pannone and Packy Naughton give the Halos another pair of non-roster options down in Salt Lake.
The milkmen? Ok, I guess.
WI = “America’s dairyland”
But…yeah.
At least the Angels are consistent when acquiring pitching. Yet another middle aged pitcher hoping for a bounce back to what appeared to be a mediocre career.
He’s been…Thunderstruck!!!
Congrats to Brian Johnson. He can have a drink on me.
He’s Back, but not in Black unless the Angels change their uniform design.
Why ??
Hells Bells
Just one of those guns for hire, but money talks. But now I stop, before the Furor comes!
Gruß,
BSHH
That takes some Big Balls. (I know that is sung by Bon Scott, I just wanted to participate.)
I knew some other smart @ss would beat me to it
Lol
As a RS fan, I always found Johnson very interesting. He’s had two years with a 106 ERA+, and his career is a 96. There might be 50 guys that have lingered in the league for 5-10 with stats like that. He had a CG SO of Seattle on 5/28/17 with a 8/0 K/W.
It just feels like he should be a competent #5, or at worst, a good #6. I wish him the best of luck.
He’ll fit right in because that basically describes everyone else in that rotation.
Being a lefty has always been an advantage to longevity. I hope he can stick around for a while.
Countdown to TJS begins…
There is talent. He overcame anxiety issues. He was a serviceable pitcher. Good luck to him.
Those anxiety issues were the final blow to his career, if it was ever going to materialize. 4 pitches, none better than average. No out pitch. Threw his FB upper 80’s to 90-91mph.
Was very good vs the NYY for some reason several times in starts, but overall? About as good as the other 1st rounder Boston had that year.. Devon Marrero.
Didn’t Brian Johnson make a real contribution alongside Hector Velasquez as swingman arms on the 2018 WS-winning club? That alone makes Johnson’s value to the Sox much greater than what Marrero was finally able to provide (little).
Emergency starter and swingman, as that he was useful and I mentioned several of those were vs NY where he was very good that year. Velazquez? His forkball was better than average, which may have put him above BJ also, then he threw a tad harder also as remember.
Nothing against him personally, in fact he’s 1 of those Lakeland, FL guys, who am always inclined to root FOR most of the time being where have been (area) for decades and the city has produced more than it’s share of MLB players for it’s size.
Just another of the long line of Artie “99 Cent” Moreno’s bargin basement specials.
“The Milkmen” – incredible name, lets break it down:
-Honest, conservative job = opposite to the dishonest trash (can) teams we have now.
-Could be used to imply that they are everyones daddy, as the joke is milkmen were known to go door to door, impregnating wives while husbands were at work.
-If the hitters are mashing, they can chant “MILK MILK MILK” as in “milk the pitching for runs” = superior/more funny than the racist stuff the Braves fans do but act like its not because team sports fans are not very intelligent as a whole, lol
-Could use any number of The Dead Milkmen songs as theme music or walkup music for the players.
-Easy jersey modification for honoring MLK
Cleveland Milkmen? Doesn’t match Milwaukee’s “dairy” reputation, but who cares, lets go!
Awesome
You are on fire my friend. ON FIRE!
In this free agent market there was no excuse for not trying to fix the bullpen. Perry cost the Angels any chance this season. The bullpen debacle can be 100% blamed on Perry the Platypus.
And for those that don’t know, Perry the Platypus is a pop culture reference of a do nothing pet, who when no one is looking, turns into Agent P. I’m still hoping Perry the Platypus will turn into Agent P, but he seems completely clueless, so I doubt he will.
Not a Angel’s fan, but it’s horrible watching them waste Mike Trout. I hope something changes and we get to see Trout on the biggest stage
A lot of the pitching staff has Maddon’s fingerprints all over it. Cobb, Quintana, Guerra, Claudio, Cishek, Jessie Chavez and more all pitched for Joe in Chicago or TB.
Yes, Johnson was a contributor to the 2018 success, but he seemed to go dead-arm in September and was left off the post season roster. Red Sox voted him a full share and he paid off his parent’s home mortgage. Brian showed a lot of heart that year especially pitching in Yankee Stadium. Hope he figured it all out and becomes a late-bloomer. He’s only 30.
Poor guy doesn’t even get a pitcher picture.
For those about to rock….
Johnson never seemed to find a role in Boston. Outside of 2018 he just bounced back and forth between the Sox and AAA. Maybe he will have better luck with the Angels