White Sox DFA John Danks

The Chicago White Sox have designated left-hander John Danks for assignment, the team announced Tuesday.

Danks had been scheduled to start Thursday's game against the Boston Red Sox. Right-hander Erik Johnson will get the nod instead.

While the White Sox have surged to the top of the American League Central with an 18-8 record to start 2016, the 31-year-old has struggled, posting a 7.25 ERA in 22 1/3 innings pitched, while walking 4.4 batters per nine innings. The team reportedly asked him to go to the minors, which he declined to do, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

"At the end of the day this is about putting us in the best position to win games," general manager Rick Hahn told reporters.

The White Sox signed Danks to a five-year, $65-million deal in 2011 after several successful seasons with the team. Shoulder injuries have derailed his career since 2012, though, and his numbers have steadily declined in the last three seasons. The team still has to pay Danks the approximately $13 million remaining on his contract, which was set to expire at season's end.

Danks posted a 79-104 record with a 4.38 ERA, 1,102 strikeouts, and a 1.35 WHIP over his 10 seasons with the White Sox.