CLEVELAND -- Jason Johnson, one of the bigger disappointments for the disappointing Cleveland Indians, was designated for assignment Tuesday by the club.
Closer to last place than first in the AL Central, the Indians also optioned right-hander Jeremy Guthrie to Triple-A Buffalo, recalled right-hander Edward Mujica from the Bisons and purchased the contract of utility man Joe Inglett.
The Indians' patience with Johnson (3-8) finally ran out following the club's 12-8 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Monday. The right-hander began the season 2-0 but is 1-8 with a 7.38 ERA in his last 10 starts.
General manager Mark Shapiro had been reluctant to make the move, citing Johnson's track record for being able to pitch a lot of innings. However, Johnson's starts were getting shorter, and time is running out on the Indians, who coming off a 93-win season, are 15 games behind the Detroit Tigers.
"I think it's [the move] exacerbated by the team's performance,
which hasn't been good," Shapiro said, adding that several teams
have already inquired about a trade for Johnson.
Shapiro said the move -- pitcher Jeremy Sowers will take Johnson's spot -- was not an indication that he was ready to give up on the season. Trades may be coming if the Indians don't get hot,
but not yet.
"There are a few guys we might consider trading," he said.
"But we don't have to trade anybody. Our primary goal right now is
to make this team better. Pulling the plug is not in our
vocabulary."
Unless something radical happens, Sowers will make his major league debut on Sunday against Cincinnati. Sowers started Tuesday night for Buffalo, where he entered that game 8-1 with a 1.27 ERA and two shutouts.
"I would caution to think that he's going to come in here, put
the team on his back and carry us," Shapiro said.
Manager Eric Wedge would be happy with some quality starts.
"I look forward to seeing him," he said. "He made a good
impression on us in spring training."
The Indians entered Tuesday's game having lost four straight and 11 of 13. At 15 games out, they matched their biggest deficit last
season when they rallied but couldn't catch the Chicago White Sox.
Johnson and free agent right-hander Paul Byrd were signed to help offset the loss of Kevin Millwood, who signed with Texas. But while Byrd (5-5 in 14 starts) has been serviceable, Johnson has been serving homers regularly.
The homers by Jacques Jones and Henry Blanco in Tuesday's loss were the ninth and 10th long balls surrendered by the 32-year-old in 77 innings.
"It wasn't working out like we had hoped," Wedge said. "We
tried everything we could try, but these guys have to go out there
and do it."
The 22-year-old Mujica has not allowed a run in 38 2/3 innings (24 appearances) at Double-A Akron and Buffalo this season. The Venezuelan went 1-0 with eight saves for the Aeros, and since joining the Bisons, he is 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 12 outings.
"I can't ever remember having a guy with a zero ERA on June 20," Shapiro said.
Inglett, 27, has spent most of the season at Buffalo, where he has batted .299 with one homer and 13 RBI while playing second
base, shortstop, left field and center for the Bisons.
Shapiro and Wedge both called him "hard-nosed."
Guthrie made seven relief appearances with Cleveland.