The Orioles have signed Daniel Johnson to a minor league deal, the team announced. The outfielder is represented by CAA Sports.
Johnson was once a fairly notable prospect in the Washington and Cleveland farm systems. The Nats dealt him to the Indians in 2018 for catcher Yan Gomes. Johnson made it to the big leagues during the shortened season and appeared in 30 games during the ’21 campaign. The New Mexico State product struggled to a .202/.245/.337 slash while striking out 32 times over 94 plate appearances.
Cleveland sent him off the 40-man roster at the end of the 2021 season. He split the 2022 campaign between the Nationals and Mets systems without reaching the majors. Johnson signed a minor league pact with the Padres last winter. He had a solid year between the top two minor league levels. The 28-year-old ran a .271/.348/.469 slash over 537 cumulative plate appearances.
Johnson has tallied a little more than 1000 plate appearances over parts of four Triple-A seasons. He’s a .254/.326/.446 hitter at that level. Johnson can play all three outfield spots but has more experience in a corner, with his top-of-the-scale arm strength playing best in right field.
When I first glanced at the pic in the article I thought I was staring at Eddie Murray! There was no doubt in my mind! Hope this kid can hit like him!
Orioles need better hitters to have a good playoff chat
Kjerstad’s replacement for Norfolk
More like Daz Cameron’s replacement
He was dealt to the Indians, and he ended up leaving the Guradians MiLB system in 2022. Magic!
Oh he has a cannon for an arm
Elias usually goes for wet noodles
Both Kjerstad and Cowser have good arms. Who has ME drafted with a weak arm?
Ryan McKenna’s contributions may be ending soon as he is like he might be headed to the great DFA in the sky. Wonder if he gets a major league deal with ST invite from another club.
I know I’m a little late to the party, but I was waiting for McKenna’s contributions to begin!
He reminds me a lot of Rich Becker, just filling in and not really doing much to help the team. He was actually a bit above average a fielder (dropped fly ball on game 2 aside) but can’t hit. Obviously there are probably 5 or 6 outfielders at this point who are ahead of him and McKenna could fill in on another team.
I’d see a minor league deal with ST invite more likely for McKenna, if DFAd. Despite thornton’s invariably myopic view, McKenna can hit lefties. In 2022, McKenna slashed .270/.333/.460/.794. In 2021 at AAA he slashed .328/.410/.731/1.142. It’s possible he could enjoy a few years as the weak side of a platoon/4th outfielder, defensive replacement, pinch runner for some team.
What’s up with bringing up these players who are all speed and nothing else? And I don’t understand how they figured he would be good in the MLB, given that AAA players often lose around 18% of their production. Hitting 0.254 in AAA results in a 0.208 BA in MLB. 0.335 wOBA in AAA would convert to 0.274, but his actual results were 0.248. Overall, not good so makes sense he signed a minors deal but unless something clicks with him in the next few years, he doesn’t have a bright future in the MLB.
Minor league depth. Needed, but boring.
When I first saw the headline my mind jumped to the Dan Johnson who was a AAAA first baseman that tried to make a comeback as a knuckleball pitcher a few years ago.
Hi, how are you?
A little tired, but otherwise OK!
Ah this one of those crafty deals the O’s make, huh?
…
One of those deals that every team makes.
Can’t see any downside. Cut him loose if he doesn’t look like AAA competition for the young prospects. Maryland’s Lottery motto used to be: “You got to play, to win.”
The chance that you’ll make it is there if you take it. Do it.