The Indians on Thursday designated infielder Chris Johnson for assignment to make room for recent free agent signee Rajai Davis on the 40-man roster.
The move means the Indians were willing to eat the remaining $17.5 million on Johnson’s contract instead of having him hold up a roster spot on the active 25-man or 40-man rosters. Johnson was owed $7.5 million in 2016, $9 million in 2017 and had a $1 million buyout for 2018 if his option wasn’t picked up by the club.
The Atlanta Braves, in order to get rid of Johnson’s salary hit in 2017, when they hope to be turning their franchise around, were willing to take on the massive contracts of both Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher.