Indians Dump Johnson, Will Promote Sowers

[ThomasTomasz]

CLEVELAND (Ticker) - The Cleveland Indians have seen enough of righthander Jason Johnson. They want to see more of top prospect Jeremy Sowers.

Signed as a free agent this past offseason, Johnson was designated for assignment Tuesday by the Indians. The club plans to recall Sowers, a 2004 first-round pick, from Class AAA Buffalo to start against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

Johnson, in his 10th major league season, was a failure as a No. 5 starter, going 3-8 with a 5.96 ERA in 14 starts. He surrendered 108 hits in 77 innings, allowing opposing hitters to bat .341. '

"This is more about trying to get better for this year's team and for the future," Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said. "This move signals trying to get better now. It also signals a move with longer term implications. The expectations we had were to have fifth-starter production."

Sowers, who has dominated in the minor league since turning pro, is 8-1 with a 1.27 ERA for Buffalo. In his last outing on Thursday against Durham, the lefthander allowed two hits over seven scoreless innings. In 92 1/3 innings, he has yielded 74 hits and 29 walks with 50 strikeouts.

In 2005, his first season in professional baseball, the 23-year-old Sowers was 14-4 with a 2.37 ERA at three levels.

Also on Tuesday, Cleveland optioned righthander Jeremy Guthrie to Buffalo, recalled righthander Edward Mujica from Buffalo and purchased the contract of infielder Joe Inglett.

Guthrie pitched in seven games for Cleveland, allowing 10 runs and 17 hits in 13 2/3 innings.

"(Guthrie) has not had many setbacks or many challenges, but there will be a learning curve," Shapiro said. "For a starting pitcher, Triple-A to the major leagues is the biggest and toughest transition in baseball."

Mujica, 22, has not allowed an earned run in 38 2/3 innings this season between Class AA Akron and Buffalo. He has yielded 25 hits and two runs with 35 strikeouts in 38 2/3 innings.

The 27-year-old Inglett was batting .299 for the Bisons with one homer and 13 RBI in 40 games. He started the season at Akron, batting .516 (33-for-64) with three homers and nine RBI. He has played every position this season except first and third base and right field.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slu...v=st&type=lgns

[ThomasTomasz]

Johnson has made his mark in the majors as being a steady innings eater. Nothing to flashy, but someone to plug in at the bottom, and give your bullpen less worry. However, he's been anything but steady this season, completely imploding. I don't think anyone is going to take a chance on him, as most teams starters are better than him.

We finally get to see the top prospect Sowers pitch, and I can not wait. His numbers are absolutely dominating. He might not strike out the most pitchers, but Sowers knows how to work hitters to his advantage, and get outs. Thats all that matters, a flyball or groundball is the same result as a K.

[Porter]

They still need to find some bullpen help as well.

[Providence A's]

good move getting rid of him...even better that they got the hated Red Sox to take him

[Porter]

Shows you how bad the Red Sox needs pitching i guess.

[Porter]

good move getting rid of him...even better that they got the hated Red Sox to take him

those Red Sox also have Jon Lester to pitch too. So do they really need Johnson. Probably not.