In which the Indians collect left-handed relievers, and lose Jerry Sands to the White Sox on waivers.
Indians Transactions
December 21
This was the inevitable result set in motion when the Indians designated him for assignment. Anyone with an interest in Johnson would just wait until he came with no salary strings attached, and because the Indians are on the hook for both his 2016 and 2017 salaries ($17.5M - including the 2018 buyout), they could sign him for the minimum. The Indians releasing him might be the best thing for him in the long run, for rather than rotting on the bench, he could go to AAA, play every day, and prove to other major-league organizations that he's still a viable player.