Angels 40 man-roster Freedom

[Second Base]

The Angels currently have 32 players on their 40 man roster, which is quite a bit less than usual, and even among those players, there's possibility for more spots to open up.  

1. Alex Meyer can be moved to the 60 day DL, temporarily knocking this number down to 31 players. 

2. Nate Smith, as much as we liked this kid in the past, he hasn't been healthy since August 2015.  We may be able to pass him through waivers bringing that number down to 30. 

3. Nolan Fontana has never hit higher than .271 in the minor leagues with middling speed and power at best.  That .271 mark came in the hitter friendly PCL last year, where the year before he hit .195.  He can easily be cut to knock it down to 29. 

The Rule 5 Draft is in December but tonight is the last night to add players to the 40 man roster that we need to protect. 

1. Jaime Barria - No brainer.

2. Michael Hermosillo - No brainer, also we only have three outfielders on the entire 40 man. 

3. Jesus Castillo - Granted, he's only in AA, but he's 21 years old in AA and has dominated every step of the ladder for the Angels.  He may or may not be picked in the Rule 5, but I'd certainly protect him because he has more upside than your basic Rule 5 pick.  He posted a 3.05 ERA in AA and he's going to be 22 this season.  A smart team would pick him and stash him for the year and reap the benefits next year and beyond. 

4. Jake Jewell - His numbers as a starter haven't been impressive at all, but everyone and their mother realizes this is a reliever the Angels are failing miserably at using as a starter.  Mid-90's fastball and a very good slider is always a good place to start.  I'd protect him because some other team will be smart enough to pick him up and use him as a 2 inning specialist in the bullpen. 

5. Osmer Morales - Ugly showing in AA but one of the better showings from a pitcher in AAA in a while.  He's a soft tosser that relies on movement and location.  We do need rotation depth. 

6. Damien Magnifico - Good numbers in AA, great fastball.  He's the sort of player you get in the Rule 5 draft because he costs nothing and has the upside with the fastball.  I'd risk exposing him to the draft. 

High water mark, the Angels could have 38 men own their 40 man roster going into the Winter meetings, or they could have as little as 31.  Chances are, we'll be at 36.  They'll save cutting ties with Smith or Fontana until later, or even moving Meyer to the 60-day DL.  So conceivably, we could see the Angels pick up a player or two in the Rule 5 Draft, sign a utility infielder, a 4th OF, a 1B and a 2B and still have a pretty clean roster. 

 

[arch stanton]

I don't think Meyer can go to the 60 day DL until they start playing games again

[totdprods]

I'd be fine cutting Smith, but I'd keep Fontana for now since we're so thin for infielders. His glove and discipline are where he draws value, not his BA. When can Meyer be added to the 40-man? Not until ST though, right? 

Definitely adding Barria, Hermosillo, and at least one of the Castillo, Morales, Jewell contingent. Eppler is gonna be prowling for victims of other teams' roster crunches too.

I have a feeling he is going to get some bites on Jose Alvarez, Jefry Marte, Carlos Perez, and even C.J. Cron today too. 

[Second Base]

7 minutes ago, totdprods said:

I'd be fine cutting Smith, but I'd keep Fontana for now since we're so thin for infielders. His glove and discipline are where he draws value, not his BA. When can Meyer be added to the 40-man? Not until ST though, right? 

Definitely adding Barria, Hermosillo, and at least one of the Castillo, Morales, Jewell contingent. Eppler is gonna be prowling for victims of other teams' roster crunches too.

I have a feeling he is going to get some bites on Jose Alvarez, Jefry Marte, Carlos Perez, and even C.J. Cron today too. 

I still don't understand why Perez isn't our backup right now. He's reworked his swing and is hitting the ball, and while he's still perfecting his defense, he's still a Gold Glove finalist. 

I'd to see Eppler do something with Cron today. I'll hold out hope on Marte as a depth measure simply because he can play a little 3B.

I could definitely see Eppler poaching someone like Tyler Austin from the Yankees.

[Vlad27Trout27]

If we can transfer Meyer to the dL, do it, Smith i'm iffy on, I know he been hurt most of the time what need pitching Depth, i think a team like Oakland, White Sox or Detroit may pick him up, Fontana can be waved. I'd put everyone on the 40 man roster except  Magnifico.

[totdprods]

4 minutes ago, Scotty@AW said:

I still don't understand why Perez isn't our backup right now. He's reworked his swing and is hitting the ball, and while he's still perfecting his defense, he's still a Gold Glove finalist. 

I'd to see Eppler do something with Cron today. I'll hold out hope on Marte as a depth measure simply because he can play a little 3B.

I could definitely see Eppler poaching someone like Tyler Austin from the Yankees.

It is pretty curious with Perez. My best guess is they just really wanted him to get everyday reps and improve some aspects and take advantage of Maldonado's durability. 

But he's out of options in '18; Graterol still has two, so he can now shuttle between AAA-MLB if there are injuries, and Perez can back up Maldy and save his legs a bit. 

Have a hunch that he could be traded though, possibly today.

[Inside Pitch]

18 minutes ago, arch stanton said:

I don't think Meyer can go to the 60 day DL until they start playing games again

This is correct.

[totdprods]

Saw some Spanish language tweets indicating Morales and Castillo were being added.

[Second Base]

3 minutes ago, totdprods said:

Saw some Spanish language tweets indicating Morales and Castillo were being added.

If that's true, we have to figure they'll add Barria, Hermosillo, Castillo and Morales while Jewell and Magnifico are exposed.  

I think one of the big ones I don't want to lose but probably will is Zach Houchins. Probably the minor league phase. 

[Second Base]

I still think there's going to be some kind of a trade involving Tyler Austin today. 

[DMVol]

If we expose Nate Smith, somebody will pick him up.....Lefties seemed to have nine lives...

[totdprods]

8 minutes ago, Scotty@AW said:

If that's true, we have to figure they'll add Barria, Hermosillo, Castillo and Morales while Jewell and Magnifico are exposed.  

I think one of the big ones I don't want to lose but probably will is Zach Houchins. Probably the minor league phase. 

Was a Venezuelan reporter's twitter.

[oater]

I haven't seen anything substantive on Nate Smith's medicals, but even if there is some risk involved, I like Nate a LOT as a depth piece.  IMO, he should stay on the 40 man roster.

Magnifico was out-righted last August off the 40 man roster and passed through waivers.  No need to add him.

If there is room, I can see adding Morales, but I think he is  a back of the rotation starter at best.  Think Scribner.

 

[totdprods]

36 minutes ago, Scotty@AW said:

If that's true, we have to figure they'll add Barria, Hermosillo, Castillo and Morales while Jewell and Magnifico are exposed.  

I think one of the big ones I don't want to lose but probably will is Zach Houchins. Probably the minor league phase. 

I could see the Angels trading the optionless Marte to another team for a low-level prospect, and then replacing his roster spot with Houchins - but only if they are intending to make legit acquisitions to the MLB infield.

[oater]

36 minutes ago, Scotty@AW said:

I think one of the big ones I don't want to lose but probably will is Zach Houchins. Probably the minor league phase. 

Houchins is on the SLC roster, so it would have to be the major league phase.

[Second Base]

1 minute ago, oater said:

Houchins is on the SLC roster, so it would have to be the major league phase.

Cal Towey was in AAA and was taken in the minor league phase.

[Angelsjunky]

5 hours ago, Scotty@AW said:

I still don't understand why Perez isn't our backup right now. He's reworked his swing and is hitting the ball, and while he's still perfecting his defense, he's still a Gold Glove finalist. 

 

I think you answered your own question: the team probably wanted to give him a full season of at-bats to develop, rather than getting 150-200 PA behind Maldonado. I'm hoping that we see more of Perez next year.

[oater]

9 hours ago, Scotty@AW said:

Cal Towey was in AAA and was taken in the minor league phase.

You may be correct, although I was under the impression that Towey was on the AA roster.  

Baseball Reference states the following regarding the minor league phase:

Minor league teams can also participate in the draft. AAA teams can draft any player eligible from AA for $24,000 (doubled from $12,000 in 2016). Players chosen in the minor league part of the draft do not need to return to the original teams for any reason. That segment of the draft is often referred to in accounts of transactions as the "Minor League draft." (Previously, AA teams could draft any players that are eligible from Class A for $4,000, but in 2016 the AA phase of the Rule 5 draft was eliminated.)

https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Rule_5_Draft

 

And from MLR 5 (2000 ed.):

Within each phase, only players from a Reserve List of a lower classification Club are eligible for selection. Thus, a player selected from a Class AAA Reserve List must be placed on the Major League Reserve List of the selecting Major League Club.

Edited November 21, 2017 by oater
Addendum

[John Smith]

Angels PR‏ @LAAngelsPR 24s25 seconds ago

 

 

The Angels have selected the following four players to the Major League roster: RHP Jaime Barria, RHP Jesus Castillo, OF Michael Hermosillo and RHP Jake Jewell.

[Chuck]

1 minute ago, John Smith said:

Angels PR‏ @LAAngelsPR 24s25 seconds ago

 

 

The Angels have selected the following four players to the Major League roster: RHP Jaime Barria, RHP Jesus Castillo, OF Michael Hermosillo and RHP Jake Jewell.

Awesome!!

[Second Base]

Interesting no Osmer Morales. 

[greginpsca]

4 spots left on the 40 man. 

[Second Base]

2 minutes ago, greginpsca said:

4 spots left on the 40 man. 

Sounds like just enough for a new starting 1B, starting 2B, utility infielder and 4th OF. 

[greginpsca]

Just now, Scotty@AW said:

Sounds like just enough for a new starting 1B, starting 2B, utility infielder and 4th OF. 

i was thinking a couple of BP arms in that group. Looks like some trades ahead.

 

[Second Base]

5 minutes ago, greginpsca said:

i was thinking a couple of BP arms in that group. Looks like some trades ahead.

 

There are still some moves we can make to free up room, either in trades or by cutting loose necessary players.