Rays Pick Dan Johnson Off Waivers From A's

Rays Pick Dan Johnson Off Waivers From A's

Marc Lancaster is reporting that Calvin Medlock has been designated for assignment to clear room for Johnson on the 40-man roster. However, there is still no word on who is being dropped from the 25-man roster although Justin Ruggiano seems like the obvious choice. Lancaster also notes that Carlos Pena will not be going on the DL. Medlock came from the Reds in the Jorge Cantu trade.

The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that the Tampa Bay Rays have claimed Dan Johnson off of waivers from the Oakland A's.

Johnson, a first baseman and DH, hit .236/.349/.418 with 18 home runs in 117 games last season.

With Carlos Pena nursing a sore hamstring, he could get the start at first base for the next few days and afterwards he will likely DH against right handed pitchers.

This is a very interesting move for the Rays and more evidence that the team has switched gears towards a win-now philosophy. With Eric Hinske, Cliff Floyd, Willy Aybar and Pena already providing left-handed bats for first base and DH, this signing appears to just be a short-term fix until Floyd and Aybar return from the DL. Afterwards it is hard to imagine that there will be room on the roster for Johnson.

No word yet on who will be removed from the 25-man roster to make room for Johnson.

From the happiest place: Johnson gone, Gross in

Update, 5:35 Official word from manager Joe Maddon is that Scott Kazmir came throuhgh his rehab assignment fine, throwing 64 pitches. But his return to the Rays could be pushed back to May 4 so they can keep the rest of the rotation in some form of order.

Both Maddon and executive VP Andrew Friedman acknowledged the awkwardness of the Dan Johnson situation, but Friedman explained that "a lot of things changed" from when the Rays claimed Johnson and Tuesday night, specifically that Carlos Pena felt better and that Gabe Gross became available.

Friedman also said the Rays have received "encouraging news" on Cliff Floyd's recovery from right knee surgery, but it still sounds like it will be sometime in May before he returns.

----

So much for the Dan Johnson era in Tampa Bay.

To make room for newly acquired OF Gabe Gross, the Rays have designated for assignment Johnson, a 1B/DH who had just joined them Tuesday after being claimed on waivers from Oakland.

Gross is en route to Florida and expected to join the Rays in time for tonight's game, but is not in the lineup (which is listed below).

With 1B Carlos Pena's sore right hamstring not a major issue (as he is back at first base tonight), the Rays' need for Johnson apparently diminished, and Gross, acquired from Milwaukee on Tuesday evening, fills a more important hole. Plus, another outfielder - either Nathan Haynes or Justin Ruggiano - seems likely to go when RHP Matt Garza is activated off the DL to start Friday.

Agent Bob Barad said the sequence of events was "unfortunate circumstances" for Johnson but he had no issues with the Rays' handling of the situation. "I certainly don't think in any way, shape or form they (claimed him) with the intent of this happening,'' Barad said. "These things happen.''

The Rays now have 10 days to release, trade or seek to pass Johnson through waivers."I think he could really help them,'' Barad said. "He's a good hitter. He just needs some at-bats.''

In other news, in an odd early morning game (10:30 start), LHP Scott Kazmir is already done with his rehab start for Class A Vero at Jupiter, having allowed seven hits (including two homers) in 4 2/3 innings, striking out four.

Kazmir gave up a homer to his first batter, Tyler Henley, and a two-run shot to his last batter, Steve Hill. Assuming all is well, Kazmir, completing his recovery from a Feb. 26 elbow strain, will make a final start Monday for Triple-A Durham and rejoin the Rays on May 3 in Boston.

As for today's lineup:
Iwamura, 2b
Crawford, lf
Upton, cf
Pena, 1b <----- Why can't the Tigers get guys like this?
Longoria, 3b
Hinske, rf
Gomes, dh
Navarro, c
Bartlett, ss

Quote :

Pena, 1b <----- Why can't the Tigers get guys like this?

I thought we had a guy like that! Wish we still had him

Price update; Johnson in Durham

Looks like 1B Dan Johnson will stay with the Rays organization.

Johnson has cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Durham, a week after getting claimed off waivers by the Rays. It was a short and relatively awkward stay for Johnson, who was cut loose one day after meeting the team in Disney (made expendable with trade for Gabe Gross, and Carlos Pena's healthy hamstring).

*In other news, top pick LHP David Price threw a successful live batting practice today at the minor league complex, but apparently needs some more work before he makes his first extended spring start. Price, who was hampered by a muscle strain in his left elbow near the end of spring training, said earlier in his rehab that he was set to do four extended spring starts before making his debut with Class-A Vero Beach.

Price hasn't started a regular season game since June 1st of last year for Vanderbilt.

The Rays are set to welcome the Red Sox for a three-game series at Tropicana Field. Lineups to come.