Josh Johnson talking with multiple teams; prefers San Diego

Despite missing the entire 2014 season to injury, Josh Johnson is drawing interest from multiple clubs on the free agent market. Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union Tribune reports that five or six teams are in the mix, but Johnson’s first choice is still a return to the San Diego Padres.

San Diego took a gamble last offseason in signing Johnson. The team signed him to a one year, $8 million deal but his contract included a clause that gave the team an option for 2015 that would have been worth $4 million. Johnson would need to make fewer than seven starts for the clause to kick in. His season ended after undergoing Tommy John surgery in late April. The Padres declined the option following the conclusion of the season but they’ve remained open to re-signing him, likely at a reduced rate.

He reportedly began a throwing program in mid-October and could be ready to pitch again early this spring.

Johnson, who will be 31 in January, has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. He’s thrown 998.0 IP in his career, going 58-45 with a 3.60 ERA and 1.268 WHIP. His entire career had been spent with the Florida-then-Miami Marlins before a 2012 trade sent him to the Toronto Blue Jays. His lone season in Toronto ended in early August and he hasn’t been back on the mound since. He’s been among the better pitchers in baseball at points in his career, but his inability to remain healthy has tarnished a once promising career.

No teams outside of the Padres have been publicly linked to Johnson to date, though there are numerous potential spots where he could prove to be a fit – depending on what kind of incentive-laden deal he’s willing to accept in an effort to re-establish value.