Johnson claimed in Rule 5 draft

Johnson was claimed by the Giants in the Rule 5 draft.

I talked about it in a recent blog entry, the possibility of pitching prospect Steve Johnson being claimed in the Rule 5 draft because he was left unprotected while dime-a-dozen players like Brian Bass, Chris Waters and John Hughes were protected.

Well, the nightmare came true. Johnson was claimed by the San Francisco Giants yesterday.

I really don't know what MacPhail was thinking by leaving him unprotected. Johnson is a 22-year-old prospect who had accumulated almost 50 IP at AA ball last year with a 2.63 ERA. His K/9 rate was close to 9. And he was one of the players we got back in the George Sherrill trade.

So why did MacPhail decide to leave him unprotected???

I don't know.

OK. So it's unlikely that the Giants keep Johnson on their MLB roster for the entire season. Like I said, he hasn't even had 50 IP in AA. But the Giants could stash him in their bullpen, and if he succeeds in that role, we lost a solid pitcher for no reason.

Chances are he doesn't make the MLB roster and is offered back to the Orioles. But I still don't understand why we're having this discussion in the first place.

Thank God we still have Chris Waters and Brian Bass!