Buffalo Bisons Lose Two Key Players: Dan Johnson Promoted

Mar 11, 2014; Lakeland, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Dan Johnson (16) works out prior to the game at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

It is an old story in minor league baseball: rosters are shuffled, particularly at the highest levels of the game, to serve the needs of the major league squad. Sometimes, a competitive minor league affiliate can get hit hard thanks to injuries to a host of big leaguers, leaving the lower level team in the lurch.

On Friday, the Toronto Blue Jays announced that they would be putting 1B/DH Adam Lind on the disabled list with a broken foot and the subsequent moves are going to throw a wrench into the Buffalo Bisons’ run for the playoffs. By purchasing the contract of 1B Dan Johnson and designating RHP Bobby Korecky for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Johnson, the Bisons are losing two key players to the team’s success this season.

Johnson, 34, is a major and minor league veteran whose experience will serve him well in the big leagues. The Blue Jays are desperate for first basemen right now with Edwin Encarnacion also on the DL with a leg injury. Johnson, who has 1556 major league plate appearances with 56 home runs and a .236/.337/.411 slash line, has been one of the best non-prospect hitters in International League this year, leading the league with 17 home runs to go with a .248/.402/.471 slash line. Johnson was named to the International League All-Star team and was also selected to participate in the home run derby.

Korecky falls victim to one of the more obscure reasons for being out of action: the DFA (designation for assignment). Because the Blue Jays didn’t have room on their 40-man roster for Johnson, someone had to make room and Korecky, who has made two appearances in Toronto this year, was chosen as the one to go. Now, Korecky is out of action until his fate is decided.

The Blue Jays have 10 days to decide whether to try to clear him through waivers or trade him. If he clears waivers, the 34-year-old righty who has a stellar 0.47 ERA and 0.83 WHIP this year with 12 saves will possibly be able to choose free agency because (if I have things right), he has already been send to the minors outright before. Players are only able to be sent to the minors outright once before they can choose free agency if a team wants to do that again.

As for the Bisons, they lose their big bat in the middle of the lineup as well as their top reliever thanks to an administrative loophole (players who have been DFA’ed can’t play until their situation is resolved).