Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Jim Johnson likely to be rotated - MLB News
The Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher, Jim Johnson is likely to be rotated next season. His relief pitching abilities and closing a particular game with high spirit is a unique skill that is now on the verge to be changed for a better future.
Experts and inside sources are speculating in the media that the Orioles management is serious and in the coming few days, they might go for rotation changes for their all key pitchers.
The Orioles’ executive vice president, Dan Duquette, while speaking to the media said, “That's up to Buck (Showalter) in the spring, I believe there's a lot of qualified starting pitchers who end up in the bullpen, and I'd rather see them go from starting
to the bullpen than the other way around.”
Duquette was also indirectly saying that if the management thought and came up with a different role play for Johnson, he has to adjust to the assigned position. This is not confirmed yet as whether Johnson will play as a closer or not but the Orioles management
is certainly thinking of some changes in their bullpen for a better winning percentage. Last season, the Orioles lost too many games down the stretch in the final stages of the regular season.
Johnson, who went with 2.67 ERA along nine saves, 58 strikeouts and 1.11 WHIP in the last season proved a good reliever but his career stats of a 3.31 ERA with 21 saves, 168 strikeouts and 1.28 WHIP certainly place him among the best closers in the Major
League Baseball’s current era.
This is also on the cards that the Orioles instead of rotating his position, trade him for a better closer available in the free agent market as few teams including the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies and Texas Rangers are interested
in Johnson’s trade.
The next few days are now very important for Jim Johnson’s future. The top executives of Orioles are expected to meet Johnson and his agent to discuss possible outcomes for both sides.
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