Report: Tigers sign reliever Jim Johnson to minor league deal

The Detroit Tigers have signed reliever Jim Johnson to a minor league deal. Johnson was released by the Oakland Athletics last week.

The Detroit Tigers have signed reliever Jim Johnson to a minor league deal, reports FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal. Johnson was released by the Oakland Athletics last week after first being designated for assignment. 

Johnson had a 7.14 ERA in 40.1 innings this season for the Athletics after they signed him to a $10 million contract last offseason to be their closer.

He's just one year removed from posting a 2.94 ERA and saving 50 games with the Baltimore Orioles, and in 2012 with Baltimore, Johnson recorded a 2.49 ERA and 51 saves and made the American League All-Star team. It was reported Monday that the Orioles were interested in signing Johnson to a minor league deal.

The Tigers' bullpen has a 4.53 ERA this season, third-worst in the majors. Only the Colorado Rockies and Houston Astros have worse bullpen ERAs. 

Shortly before the trade deadline, Detroit added former Cy Young winnerDavid Price to its staff, joining Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, who have also won the award. As part of the trade, the Tigers sent outfielder Austin Jackson to the Seattle Mariners. 

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- Alex Hampl