Daniel Johnson - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Inks minor-league deal with Houston Johnson and the Astros agreed on a minor-league contract Thursday.

Impact Johnson will head to Triple-A Sugar Land after initially electing to become a free agent following his designation for assignment by the Astros on Monday. The 29-year-old has combined to go 2-for-20 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored over six contests with Triple-A Jacksonville and Triple-A Sugar Land so far this year.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Becomes free agent Johnson elected to become a free agent Wednesday.

Impact After passing through waivers following his removal from the Astros' 40-man roster, Johnson has exercised his right to free agency rather than accept an outright assignment. He could wind up re-signing with Houston on a minor-league deal, but the outfielder will have the ability to negotiate with all clubs.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Booted off 40-man roster The Astros designated Johnson for assignment Monday.

Impact Johnson went 2-for-14 at the plate during his brief time in the majors. His roster spot will be absorbed by Zach Cole.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Former Guardians outfielder has become key player in Astros' beleaguered outfield Former Guardians outfielder Daniel Johnson has been thrust into action in Houston.

MAY 1 • AWAYBACKGONE.COM

Contract selected The Astros selected Johnson's contract from Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday.

Impact Johnson was signed to a minor-league deal Sunday and will be added to the big-league roster after just one game with Sugar Land. The 30-year-old outfielder is a career .196/.243/.322 hitter over parts of four big-league seasons. Johnson could see a bit of playing time as the Astros navigate multiple injuries in their outfield.

APRIL 21 • ROTOWIRE

Catches on with Houston Johnson signed a minor-league contract with Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday and was assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land.

Impact Sugar Land immediately inserted Johnson into its lineup, with the 30-year-old starting in center field and going 1-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run in a 7-4 extra-inning win over Salt Lake in Sunday's series finale. The addition of Johnson provides Houston with extra organizational depth in the outfield after the big-league roster recently lost Jake Meyers (oblique) and Joey Loperfido (quadriceps) to the injured list. Johnson previously saw MLB action last season between stops with the Giants and Orioles, slashing just .189/.246/.302 with one home run and two stolen bases across 57 plate appearances.

APRIL 20 • ROTOWIRE

Sent to minors camp The Marlins reassigned Johnson to minor-league camp Wednesday.

Impact Johnson inked a minor-league pact that included an invitation to spring training over the winter. The 30-year-old appeared in 31 regular-season games for the Orioles and Giants last season and hit .189 with a .548 OPS across 57 plate appearances.

MARCH 18 • ROTOWIRE

Random former Guardians outfield prospect signs minor league deal with Marlins While Daniel Johnson didn't do much in his time with the Guardians, he's still kicking around in baseball thanks to a minor league contract...

JANUARY 31 • AWAYBACKGONE.COM

Signs with Marlins as NRI The Marlins signed Johnson to a minor-league contract Dec. 29 that includes an invitation to spring training.

Impact Johnson received 57 plate appearances between the Giants and Orioles in 2025, finishing with a .548 OPS. The 30-year-old can handle all three outfield spots and will provide experienced depth at Triple-A Jacksonville, barring his surprising inclusion on the Opening Day roster.

JANUARY 29 • ROTOWIRE

Headed to free agency Johnson elected free agency Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Johnson cleared waivers after losing his roster spot Wednesday and elected free agency rather than accepting an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. He earned 57 plate appearances in the majors in 2025.

NOVEMBER 7, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Kittredge's $9 million option exercised by Orioles, who decline Mateo's $5.5 million option

The Baltimore Orioles have exercised Andrew Kittredge's $9 million option

NOVEMBER 6, 2025 • Associated Press

Booted off 40-man roster The Orioles designated Johnson for assignment Wednesday.

Impact Clearing Johnson from the 40-man roster frees up a spot for waiver claim George Soriano. Johnson, 30, slashed .189/.246/.302 over 31 games between the Giants and Orioles this season.

NOVEMBER 5, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A The Orioles optioned Johnson to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday.

Impact He's being sent down to accommodate the return of Tyler O'Neill (wrist). Johnson had made just two starts since being recalled three weeks ago and had yet to start a game in September.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Recalled from Triple-A The Orioles recalled Johnson from Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Impact He's absorbing the roster spot vacated by the injured Adley Rutschman (oblique). Johnson went 2-for-14 during an earlier stint in Baltimore and will operate in a reserve role.

AUGUST 21, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Orioles promote top prospect Samuel Basallo for MLB debut

Baltimore's top prospect, Samuel Basallo, makes his MLB debut Sunday after the Orioles selected his contract from Triple-A Norfolk

AUGUST 17, 2025 • Associated Press

Dispatched to Triple-A The Orioles optioned Johnson to Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday.

Impact After being claimed off waivers from the Giants on Monday, Johnson appeared in four games for Baltimore and went 2-for-14 with a walk, a stolen base and three runs. He'll give up his spot on the active roster to fellow outfielder Colton Cowser (concussion), who was reinstated from the 7-day injured list in a corresponding move.

AUGUST 17, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Tomoyuki Sugano earns 10th victory as Orioles outlast Mariners 5-3 after long rain delay

Rookie Tomoyuki Sugano earned his 10th victory by working 5 1/3 sharp innings before a lengthy rain delay, and the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Seattle Mariners 5-3

AUGUST 14, 2025 • Associated Press

Getting second straight start Johnson will start in center field and bat sixth in Thursday's game against the Mariners.

Impact Johnson will cover center field for a second straight game after he started and went 0-for-2 in his Orioles debut in Wednesday's 4-3 win. With Colton Cowser (concussion) and Tyler O'Neill (wrist) on the injured list and the Orioles having received little production in the outfield from the likes of Dylan Carlson, Greg Allen and Ryan Noda of late, Johnson could get the chance to play regularly.

AUGUST 14, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Claimed by Orioles The Orioles claimed Johnson off waivers from the Giants on Monday.

Impact Johnson was up with the Orioles briefly last season, receiving one plate appearance. He had been designated for assignment by the Giants after going 5-for-29 at the plate for San Francisco. Johnson will report to the major-league roster with the Orioles, and he could see some playing time while Colton Cowser (concussion) and Tyler O'Neill (wrist) are out.

AUGUST 11, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

DFA'd by Giants The Giants designated Johnson for assignment Friday.

Impact San Francisco is selecting the contract of Drew Gilbert, and Johnson will depart the 40-man roster as a result. Johnson has slashed .278/.322/.519 in 199 plate appearances at Triple-A Sacramento. The 29-year-old will be available on waivers.

AUGUST 8, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Shuttled back to minors Johnson was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact Johnson has spent the majority of the season with Sacramento but has been in the majors since June 4. He's played a reserve role for the Giants and hit just .172 across 29 at-bats.

JULY 4, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Back in majors The Giants recalled Johnson from Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Impact Johnson was sent down to Sacramento earlier Tuesday to make room for new acquisition Rafael Devers, but he'll now make a U-turn back to San Francisco to replace Jerar Encarnacion (oblique). Johnson will likely continue to come off the bench most days while with the Giants.

JUNE 18, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Sacramento The Giants optioned Johnson to Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact With Rafael Devers officially joining the active roster Tuesday, Johnson will end up as the roster casualty necessary to create room on the 26-man. The 29-year-old is 4-for-17 with a homer and four runs scored in the big leagues this season, and he owns an .846 OPS across 109 plate appearances in the minors.

JUNE 17, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Hits homer off bench Johnson hit a solo home run in his lone at-bat in Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Dodgers.

Impact Johnson got the Giants within a run with his eighth-inning homer. He saw some steady action just after he was called up in early June, but he's since taken on a bench role as a spare outfielder. He's batting .235 with a homer, a double, one RBI, four runs scored and one stolen base over 19 plate appearances this season.

JUNE 16, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Hits homer off bench Johnson hit a solo home run in his lone at-bat in Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Dodgers.

JUNE 16, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

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Kittredge's $9 million option exercised by Orioles, who decline Mateo's $5.5 million option

Orioles promote top prospect Samuel Basallo for MLB debut

Tomoyuki Sugano earns 10th victory as Orioles outlast Mariners 5-3 after long rain delay