Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
When the Toronto Blue Jays acquired Josh Johnson in the blockbuster with the Miami Marlins they were hoping they would see the pitcher that, when healthy, went 56-37 with a 3.15 ERA. Instead, the Blue Jays haven’t seen that version of Johnson yet.
Across his first four starts in the American League, Johnson has posted a 6.86 ERA and has posted a 1.88 WHIP and only two quality starts. He also hasn’t pitched since April 21st with inflammation in his triceps. Health is something that has always been a problem for Johnson who has only made more than 30 starts in a season twice in the eight seasons he has been a pro and his ninth season doesn’t look like it will be much different.
Right now the Blue Jays are sitting in the cellar of the AL East with a 9-17 record and are already 9.5 games out of first. This is hardly the season that Blue Jays’ fans were hoping for when the Jays acquired Johnson, Jose Reyes, Emilio Bonafacio and Mark Buehrle from the Marlins, R.A. Dickey from the New York Mets and signed Melky Cabrera in free agency.
If the Blue Jays can’t turn it around soon they will have to consider trading off some of their players, Josh Johnson among them.
Johnson is scheduled to become a free agent at the end of the year and the Blue Jays might get more value from trading him near the deadline rather than having him on the roster. Given his health and his struggles in the American League, the Jays could probably get some value from a National League team looking to add a starter for the stretch run.
The Colorado Rockies are off to a hot start and might look to bolster their rotation if they are still in the race in June or July. The Los Angeles Dodgers, who once had an excess of pitching, are now in need of pitching reinforcements.
If the Blue Jays don’t start to show some signs of life soon they might start making calls around baseball and seeing what they get for some of their players, specifically Johnson. Of course, the Blue Jays would like to see Johnson come back healthy and put together a few good starts before that happens.
