Indians place Yan Gomes on paternity leave, DFA Elliot Johnson

The Indians have designated utility man Elliot Johnson for assignment and placed catcher Yan Gomes on paternity leave. Relief pitcher Nick Hagadone and catcher George Kottaras have been added to the roster in their places.

Johnson has gone just 2 for 19 so far this season, and after he dropped two throws at second base last night, few will be sad to see him go. The Indians still have plenty of versatility on the roster, with Mike Aviles and Jose Ramirez both capable of playing a number of positions.

Gomes will likely only miss three games, but with Carlos Santana the only other player on the roster who's ever caught a single inning of MLB or MiLB ball (aside from 3 inning by Ryan Raburn in spring training back in 2008), the Indians obviously felt the need to have someone else on the roster.

Hagadone has a 5.59 ERA in 67.2 innings of relief work for the Indians over the last three years. He has a 3.97 ERA in 1.1 innings for Columbus so far this season, with 13 strikeouts, 6 walks, and 2 home runs allowed. He's a southpaw, giving Francona another option against good left-handed hitters late in games, but he's not someone I want throwing significant innings.

Kottaras has a .214/.324/.406 line in 820 career MLB plate appearances with six difference teams over the last six years. He's just 2 for 25 so far this season in Columbus. I hope Santana catches all three of the games Gomes is away for, with Lonnie Chisenhall at third base.