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.
You can hear Matt McCarthy on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s own Hardcore Baseball podcast and on various 98.5 The Sports Hub programs. Follow him on Twitter @MattMcCarthy985.
