Red Sox Rumors: Left-handed pitcher Brian Johnson drawing trade interest

The Boston Red Sox may find Brian Johnson expendable without a spot for him in the rotation and teams have shown interest in trading for him.

Brian Johnson‘s role remains murky entering the 2018 season. He could be a starter or be transitioned to the bullpen. There’s even a chance that he won’t be in the Boston Red Sox organization at all.

The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo reports that Johnson is drawing some interest on the trade market. The 27-year old is out of minor league options, meaning the Red Sox would need to keep him on their 25-man roster or risk placing him on waivers.

The Red Sox don’t appear to have room in their rotation, even with Eduardo Rodriguez still recovering from knee surgery. Steven Wright appears to be the front-runner to hold down the No. 5 spot in the rotation and may not let go of that role if he returns to 2016 form. Boston could have an interesting position battle on their hands if Wright is throwing well when E-Rod is ready to return. It would be difficult for Johnson to fend off both competitors for that spot, so barring a rash of injuries to the pitching staff it seems he’s destined for the bullpen.

While Johnson has taken the team player approach by accepting any role the Red Sox ask of him, he’s never pitched out of the bullpen at any level of his professional career. He has the potential to be useful in long relief or as a lefty specialist but he’s yet to prove it.

The former first-round pick would have more value to a team that sees him as a potential middle of the rotation starter. Johnson’s major league track record is limited but he went 2-0 with a 4.33 ERA in five starts last season, including a complete game shutout.

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He also owned a 3.10 ERA in 18 minor league starts, improving upon a 2016 season spent entirely in the minors in which he posted a 3.60 ERA.

The potential is there for Johnson to have a success career as a starter but the Red Sox currently don’t have an opening for him.

Rated as the No. 13 prospect in a thin Red Sox farm system, Johnson wouldn’t bring back a massive haul in a trade. However, he should return decent value from a team looking for a cheap option to fill out their rotation who would remain under their control until 2024.

Boston could flip Johnson for another pitcher with a strong track record as a reliever, giving them a more reliable option to bolster a bullpen that has several question marks behind closer Craig Kimbrel. Or they could deal him for multiple prospects who may be years away from the big leagues. This would add depth to the farm system, give them additional chips to offer in other trades and avoid the scenario of being forced to carry a pitcher on the active roster simply because they are out of options.

Next: Who will be the Red Sox closer in 2019?

The Red Sox should be prepared to carry Johnson with them into the season. He could play an important role in a bullpen short on left-handed options so he’s certainly not without value to this team. Yet if another team that wants him in their rotation sees him as more valuable than the Red Sox do then they have to consider moving him.

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