Saturday, October 09, 1999
Reds drop Johnson, Wohlers
BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Reds released catcher Brian Johnson on Friday and officially asssigned his backup spot to rookie Jason LaRue.
Johnson, 31, hit .231 with five home runs and 18 RBI in 45 games. He was signed as a free agent in January.
“We made the decision to go with Eddie Taubensee and Jason LaRue as our catchers,” Reds General Manager Jim Bowden said. “Johnson would have been arbitration eligible.”
Also Friday, the Reds:
• Picked up the option on Stan Belinda's contract for the 2000 season. Belinda, a right-handed reliever, went 3-1 with a 5.27 ERA and two saves for the Reds. Belinda's contract, signed in 1997, gave the club an option in 2000 that pays the pitcher $1.2 million.
“His ERA was inflated from pitching in blowouts,” Bowden said. “He was effective in close games.”
• Did not pick up the option on reliever Mark Wohlers for the 2000 season. Wohlers came to the Reds in exchange for John Hudek in a July 6 trade with Atlanta. He never pitched for the major-league team. He tore a ligament in his pitching arm during a rehab assignment and finished the year on the disabled list. Wohlers' 1999 salary was $5.2 million.
The Braves paid the $800,000 buyout of Wohlers' contract. Bowden said Wohlers will be invited to spring training and has agreed to come.
• Outrighted outfielder Kerry Robinson and right-handed pitchers Rick Greene and Keith Glauber to Triple-A Indianapolis.
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