Jays cut outfielder Johnson

Jays cut outfielder Johnson

CATHAL KELLY
Sports Reporter
The Toronto Blue Jays released Reed Johnson this morning, ending the slick fielding left fielder’s nine-year tenure with the organization.

“I’d prepared myself for it,” Johnson said. “In my mind, I’d been released a couple of times already … It’s always a surprise, but I wouldn’t say it was a shock.”

Last year, Johnson was coming off a career year at the plate and had established himself as a core member of one baseball’s best outfields alongside Vernon Wells and Alex Rios.

But a back injury ended his 2007 season after only seven games. He returned in July, but failed to re-establish himself in left, where Matt Stairs claimed most of the playing time.

Johnson arrived at camp this year fully healed and holding a new, one-year $3.275 million (U.S.) contract. But two weeks after arriving in Florida, the Jays signed free agent Shannon Stewart to compete for the spot.

Trade rumours drifted around Johnson all spring, but came to nothing. Today, he was released. The Jays will now pay only one-sixth – or $546,000 – of Johnson’s contract. Stewart will be added to the 40-man roster and his minor league deal converts to a $1.5 million major league contract.

I'll guess that the Athletics pick him up, seeing as they need a CF.

Cubs, outfielder Reed Johnson agree to one-year contract
Additionally, Cubs announce fifth round of roster cuts; Place right-hander Angel Guzman on 60-day disabled list

MESA, Ariz. -- The Chicago Cubs today announced the club has agreed to terms with outfielder Reed Johnson on a one-year contract. Johnson, who will wear uniform number 13, is scheduled to be in the Cubs line-up for this afternoon's game against San Francisco in Scottsdale.

Additionally, the club today announced its fifth round of roster cuts.

The Cubs optioned outfielders Sam Fuld and Eric Patterson to Triple-A Iowa and assigned left-handed pitcher Les Walrond and infielders Micah Hoffpauir and Casey McGehee to Minor League camp.

Also, the Cubs today placed right-handed pitcher Angel Guzman on the 60-day disabled list with status post ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction of his right elbow.

Johnson, 31, is a career .281 hitter (585-for-2083) with 114 doubles, 14 triples, 42 home runs, and a .342 on-base percentage in all or part of five Major League seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays (2003-07) covering 610 games. He has excelled in his career vs. left-handed pitching, batting .308 (216-for-701) with a .371 on-base percentage and a .462 slugging percentage vs. southpaws.

The right-handed batter and thrower has batted in the leadoff spot in 394 games, batting .290 (443-for-1526) with a .353 on-base percentage, and batted in the second spot in the order in 104 games, posting a .273 batting average. He has seen action in 398 games in left field, 197 games in right and 64 games in center.

In his last full Major League season with the Blue Jays in 2006, Johnson batted .319 (147-for-461) with 86 runs scored, 34 doubles, 12 home runs, a .390 on-base percentage and a .479 slugging percentage in 134 games, all career bests. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder missed more than three months last season due to surgery on April 17 to correct a herniated disc in his lower back. He batted .236 in only 79 contests, though still hit .325 (25-for-77) with a .381 on-base percentage vs. left-handed pitching.

Following today's moves, Chicago's spring roster of 32 players consists of 17 pitchers (including Guzman and non-roster invitee Chad Fox), two catchers, eight infielders (one non-roster invitee) and five outfielders.[b]