No surgery needed for JJ, but season's over
TORONTO -- Blue Jays right-hander Josh Johnson is officially done for the season due to a strained right forearm.
The news hardly comes as a surprise, considering Johnson hasn't pitched since Aug. 6, but after a visit with renowned surgeon James Andrews, it was determined that Johnson should not throw for at least a couple of weeks.
Dr. Andrews confirmed the original diagnosis and ruled out surgery, which is welcome news for Johnson, but it doesn't change the fact that he won't pitch again for the Blue Jays this year.
"We expected a lot, he expected a lot -- it just didn't happen," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said of Johnson's disappointing season. "He had the best spring of our staff; he looked better than most guys we faced on other teams. Who knows [why it didn't work]? Nobody knows."
Johnson's season ends after just 16 starts, two wins and an ugly 6.20 ERA, with free agency looming at the end of the season. He originally appeared headed for a big payday, but following a disappointing performance, he may need to settle for a one-year contract on the open market.
Toronto could opt to make Johnson a qualifying offer at the end of the season, but even that seems unlikely at this point. A qualifying offer would cost the Blue Jays approximately $14 million if accepted, but it would also guarantee the organization a first-round Draft pick if Johnson were to sign with another team.
Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos remained noncommittal when asked about the qualifying offer. Toronto won't have to make that decision until the offseason, and that will give the organization more time to view Johnson's medical records and see how he responds to rehab.
"I think you wait, because you see how he recovers and responds," Anthopoulos said. "They want him to get up off the mound at the end of the season, so that will tell us a lot as well. The fact that we don't have to make a decision today, why not take the time to get more information?
"Who knows? Along the way, maybe he does great. Maybe there's -- obviously we hope not -- a setback. So we'll take the full time. ... It's also the prognosis going forward -- what's the element of risk? You rely a lot on your medical staff and your doctors."