It’s been back to business and regular form for Jim Johnson of the Atlanta Braves this season, drawing interest towards the relief pitcher from possibly playoff-bound teams looking to improve their bullpen like the Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Angels.
The Pirates are chasing the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central but will probably get a shot at making the postseason through the Wild Card game if they don’t end up finishing first in their division. The Angels have lost the lead in the AL West to the Houston Astros, so immediate improvement is a little bit more necessary, although they to should be finishing on top of the Wild Card rankings based on what we’re seeing right now.
Johnson, 32, provides a great signing for a number of reasons. Besides his ability this season (2.25 ERA in 48 innings pitched for the Braves), there’s the matter of his salary. He is making only $1.6 million in 2015 after the awful 2014 he had, and he’s also a free agent at the end of this season. His experience is another attribute worth noting, making it slightly surprising that more teams with some bullpen needs aren’t going after him.