Josh Johnson (SP-SD)

Injury He sustained multiple injuries in 2013 including triceps tightness and forearm soreness which ultimately ended his season.  In October 2013, he underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove bone spurs and loose bodies in his elbow.

2013 Season – After being acquired by the Blue Jays as part of the Marlins’ firesale after the 2012 season ended, Johnson was expected to help anchor a vastly improved pitching staff which made Toronto a favorite to win the AL East.  However, he only made 16 starts which were mostly all disastrous.  He had two separate stints on the disabled list before being shut down for the year.  When he did pitch, he compiled a 2-8 record with a 6.20 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and only 2.77 K/BB

Reason For Optimism  

  • Johnson returns to the National League after looking completely overwhelmed pitching in the AL East.
  • He signed a one-year deal with the hopes of re-establishing his reputation and value to cash in on a lucrative long-term contract.
  • Despite the injuries and poor results, he still averaged over a strikeout per inning.
  • He will have the benefit of pitching at PetCo Park which is one of the most pitcher-friendly stadiums in the entire league.

Reason For Concern

  • He has only made 30 starts in a season twice in his career.
  • He hasn’t had an above-average full season since 2010.
  • Even though he is only 30-years old, he has a lot of wear and tear on his arm after multiple injuries.

2014 OUTLOOK Johnson is a good sleeper candidate because he has fallen off of everyone’s radar.  There is no denying his talent.  He put himself in a good situation to rehabilitate his reputation in San Diego.  Do not overspend on him, but target him as a solid late round option with good upside.

If you are wondering the best way to evaluate arms such as Johnson so that you can find these “gems” on the mound, I've got just the thing for you. It's the 2014 Fantasy Alarm Draft Guide powered by BaseballGuys. There are a couple of articles detailing exactly how you can go about finding bargains on players who are on the comeback trail in 2014.

Michael A. Stein, Esq. is the Chief Justice of Fantasy Judgment, the industry's premier dispute resolution service.  You can contact him at michael.stein@fantasyjudgment.com or on Facebook and Twitter (@FantasyJudgment),