December 13, 2004
Johnson Lost in Rule 5
No Selections by Cardinals
By Brian Walton
Sadly, the Cardinals did not protect left-hander Tyler Johnson on their 40-man roster. As a result, he was selected by the Oakland A’s with the eighth pick in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft on Monday. Full Story
Johnson possesses an excellent curve ball and is projected as a major league reliever. While his 2004 ERA of 4.79 at Tennessee was not impressive, his 77 strikeouts in 56-1/3 innings was.
All the Redbirds have to show for Johnson is the paltry sum of $50,000. Why the team chose not to protect Johnson instead of guys like Mike Mahoney amazes me.
Johnson must remain on the A’s 25-man roster all season or be offered back to the Cards for $25,000. With a crowded roster in Oakland, that remains a possibility.
The Cardinals did not take any players in the major league phase, as only twelve players were selected overall.
