(Photo by: Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – The Cleveland Indians today announced the following transactions relative to the 40-man roster:
Acquired OF DANIEL JOHNSON and RHP JEFRY RODRĺGUEZ and a player to be named (announced by 4/15/2019) from the Washington Nationals in exchange for C YAN GOMES.
Johnson, 23, was named Washington's 2017 Minor League Player of the Year and entered 2018 rated by Baseball America as being the "Best Power Hitter" among Nationals prospects. The 2016 Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year was Washington's fifth round selection in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of New Mexico State University and has been featured on several organizational top prospects lists this season, including FanGraphs (#5), MLB.com (#7) and Baseball America (#7). The left-handed hitting and throwing outfielder has appeared in 288 games across three minor league seasons, batting .281 (314-1118) with 102 extra-base hits, 121 RBI and 57 stolen bases (57 2B, 15 3B, 30 HR, .337OBP, .439SLG). The Vallejo, California native has seen significant time at all three outfield positions.
Rodrίguez, 25, split the 2018 season between Double-A Harrisburg, Triple-A Syracuse and the Major League club, going a combined 7-5 with a 3.40 ERA in 19 Minor League starts (100.2IP, 87H, 38ER, 43BB, 102SO, .234 avg). Over his six stints with the Nationals, the native of the Dominican Republic posted a mark of 3-3 with a 5.71 ERA in 14 games/8 starts (52.0IP, 43H, 33ER, 37BB, 39SO), limiting Major League batters to a .228 average against. Over his six big league relief outings he posted an ERA of 2.70 (4ER/13.1IP, .159 avg). He owns a seven-year career Minor League ERA of 4.17 in 108 games/105 starts (239ER/516.1IP) as 2018 represented his first taste at the Major League level. He was rated in July as the 8th-best prospect in the Nationals system according to Baseball America.
Gomes batted .266 (107-for-403) in 2018 with 26 doubles, 16 homers and 48 RBI in 112 games. The 40-man roster remains at 40 players with the addition of Rodriguez.