Always thought any nice words tossed Johnson's way were simply GM-Speak in the hopes they could get someone to take some of his money and free up a roster spot anyway. The thing the Old Guard doesn't understand is that GM-Speak doesn't fool anyone other than your less-informed fanbase - other teams certainly aren't buying it.
When you're in a rebuild and are teetering as to whether you're close enough to get on the fringes of .500/competition, simply be honest and tell guys like Johnson that if he doesn't pitch better you're going to cut him loose, and Kemp that if he doesn't keep his fat *ss in better shape he's going to be a pinch-hitter until the end of his deal.