Red Sox waive Brian Johnson
By Matt McCarthy, 985TheSportsHub.com
The Red Sox have waived left-handed pitcher Brian Johnson, removing him from the 40-man roster and opening up the possibility for other teams to claim him.
The news was first reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
#RedSox left-hander Brian Johnson also on outright waivers, sources tell The Athletic. With Thanksgiving holiday looming, a number of similar moves are expected today as teams address their 40-man roster in advance of the non-tender deadline on Dec. 2.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 25, 2019
In the event Johnson clears waivers, he would remain in the Red Sox organization but would not be on the 40-man roster.
Johnson is coming off a bad 2019 season. The lefty put up a 1-3 record with a 6.02 ERA in 21 appearances. He dealt with an elbow injury and missed time during the year.
2019 marked a disappointing setback for Johnson, who contributed in 2018, serving as a spot-starter for stretches of the season when the Red Sox needed him. He made 38 appearances, including 13 starts, in the World Series winning year and put up a 4.17 ERA in 99 1/3 innings pitched.
The soon-to-be 29-year old was a first round pick out of the University of Florida in 2012. He has made 65 big league appearances and has a career ERA of 4.74.
The decision to waive Johnson won’t result in significant savings for the cash-conscious Red Sox. The lefty is not arbitration eligible until 2021.
The Red Sox 40-man roster is now at 38 players.
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