(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Angels have been very active making roster moves this week, specifically on Thursday.
That day, they selected the contracts of old friends Jared Walsh and David Fletcher, optioned Kyren Paris and Jordyn Adams to Triple-A, and transferred Luis Rengifo to the 60-day injured list.
They also designated right-handed pitcher Gerardo Reyes for assignment.
Angels insider Sam Blum states that the team is trying every imaginable way to stay under the luxury tax.
“Both players (Fletcher and Walsh) are making guaranteed money this year, so it doesn’t add to the payroll by bringing them up. In fact, by optioning Adams/Paris, they’ll save a bit on payroll. The Angels are clearly motivated in recent weeks by getting staying below the luxury tax,” Blum tweeted.
Both players are making guaranteed money this year, so it doesn’t add to the payroll by bringing them up. In fact, by optioning Adams/Paris, they’ll save a bit on payroll.
The Angels are clearly motivated in recent weeks by getting staying below the luxury tax.
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) September 14, 2023
Fletcher has been outrighted from the 40-man roster twice this year already, while Walsh got unclaimed once he hit waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Salt Lake City.
Walsh, who looked like a promising part of the Angels’ future in 2020 and 2021, has been out the majority of the year as he received treatment for chronic headaches and insomnia.
He has a .467 OPS in 28 games.
Fletcher, a lineup mainstay from 2018 to 2022, found opportunities to play very limited this year.
He boasts a .543 OPS in 19 contests.
In reality, Fletcher only performed well in the 2020 campaign, when he had a .801 OPS in the shortened pandemic season.
The Angels’ organizational objective from this point until the end of the season is not making the playoffs anymore: it’s cut as much payroll as possible.
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