Random former Guardians outfield prospect signs minor league deal with Marlins 

While Daniel Johnson ended up appearing in the 2020 and 2021 seasons with the Cleveland Guardians, it always seemed like the Guardians’ front office never viewed him as a key piece of their future. 

Now he’s going to get a chance to pave the next chapter of his career with one of baseball’s up and coming teams, as the 30-year-old outfielder signed a minor league deal with the Marlins on Thursday that includes an invite to big league spring training. 

Former Guardians prospect Daniel Johnson signs minor league deal with Marlins 

Johnson’s coming off the busiest season of his big league career, as he appeared in a career-high 31 games split between stints with the Giants and Orioles. He hit .189 in that time with one home run, two stolen bases and three doubles. 

Johnson’s call-up with the Giants came out of nowhere, as he started the year playing in the Mexican League but was able to parlay some strong production there into a minor league deal with the Giants that turned into a big league call-up. 

Johnson spent a little less than a month on the Giants’ big league roster before being demoted and designated for assignment in August, where he was scooped up by the Orioles. He spent a week on the Orioles’ big league roster before being sent down to Triple-A and subsequently being DFA’d after the season. 

While Johnson hit ..278 in Triple-A for the Giants (who play in the launching pad that’s the Pacific Coast League), he hit just .158 in five games at Triple-A for Baltimore. 

Johnson has good speed and is an above-average outfielder, but it’s hard for teams to justify giving him a roster spot when he provides next to no offensive production. 

The Guardians acquired Johnson ahead of the 2019 season as a part of their return for Yan Gomes and eventually became the team’s No. 21 prospect.

He made his MLB debut in the 2020 season and appeared in 30 games for Cleveland in 2021 but opened 2022 in Triple-A and was eventually traded to the Mets halfway through the season. 

Now he’ll have his work cut out for him in a Marlins outfield that’s led by recent trade acquisition Owen Caissie alongside rising star Kyle Stowers and others. 

Johnson doesn’t have any minor league options remaining, which will limit the amount of flexibility he’ll have if/when he gets called up, but it seems like he’s landed in a good spot where he could get a big league shot in 2026.