Halos Heaven - All PostsAngels news and analysishttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50595/hh-fav.png2022-03-23T17:30:00-07:00http://www.halosheaven.com/rss/current/2022-03-23T17:30:00-07:002022-03-23T17:30:00-07:00Angels News and Notes: Arbitration agreements, new Ohtani rule, trade rumors, and more
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<p>Catching up on some news items out of Angels camp in recent days</p> <p id="Q2111W">After more than three months with no baseball whatsoever, we’re finally back to business as usual. Spring Training games have been going on for almost a week now, and Opening Day is on all of our collective radars just a few weeks away.</p>
<p id="ZBcN67">After staying quiet for the first couple of days post-lockout, the Angels jumped back into the mix <a href="https://www.halosheaven.com/2022/3/19/22986098/los-angeles-angels-halos-heaven-podcast-march-2022-archie-bradley-ryan-tepera">with a couple of moves of their own</a>. They’ve also been in the news for a couple of other things as well, some of which you might have missed. If that’s the case for you, we’ve got you covered right here, as we’ve compiled some of those news items into a handy roundup for your viewing pleasure:</p>
<h2 id="h89ItS">Halos avoid arbitration with all three eligible players</h2>
<p id="PQ8UOM">One of the many things around baseball that was thrown off schedule by the 99-day lockout was the arbitration process, which got put on hold following the last date to offer contracts to players all the way back on November 30. The new deadline for teams to finally file for arbitration was set for Tuesday after the new CBA was enacted about two weeks ago, and ahead of that time, the Angels reached agreements with Max Stassi, Mike Mayers and Tyler Wade, all three of their eligible players.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Angels?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Angels</a> have reached agreements with all three arbitration eligible players for the 2022 season: C Max Stassi, RHP Mike Mayers and INF Tyler Wade.</p>— Angels PR (@LAAngelsPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/LAAngelsPR/status/1506317606168371201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2022</a>
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<p id="ftw0rB">The most expensive of the three deals is Stassi’s, which came in at $3 million (an increase of $1.4 million from last season) in his final year of arbitration. Following that was Mayers at $2.15 million (up from $1.2 million) in his second year, and Wade got $825,000 in his first year.</p>
<p id="MoPRA3">With all three of those figures added into the equation, the Angels’ payroll for 2022 now sits at approximately $188 million, with their luxury tax payroll coming in a bit higher at $203 million. The former figure sits just above the $182 million mark they came in at the end of last season, and the latter is around $30 million below the new luxury tax threshold put into place by the new CBA.</p>
<p id="KE6zZ8">Settling all of these cases without going to a hearing was the expected outcome, as the only time the club failed to reach an agreement with a player before the deadline in the past decade was with outfielder Brian Goodwin in 2020. Goodwin ended up winning his case in that hearing and was awarded $2.2 million for that season, up from the $1.85 million that the Halos offered him.</p>
<h2 id="A1mZB3">MLB enacts new “Shohei Ohtani Rule” for 2022 and beyond</h2>
<p id="Sqhxen">Negotiations between MLB and the MLBPA have been ongoing even after the lockout ended, and on Tuesday afternoon, the two sides agreed on a couple of different items that would go into effect this season. Some of these—expanded rosters in April, the return of the runner on second rule in extra innings, and reverting back nine inning doubleheaders—affect every team around the league, but one of them looks to be a huge boost to the Angels in particular.</p>
<p id="jY2MtO"><a href="https://twitter.com/halosheaven/status/1506391544474996744?s=20&t=o_xfTSMyGLhLG9XEc5qk5A">According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post</a>, the league has put a new “Shohei Ohtani Rule” into effect for 2022 and beyond. The rule states that a starting pitcher who is also in the batting lineup, like Ohtani was on a regular basis last year, can stay in the game as a hitter even after being pulled on the mound, and it was reportedly put in place to encourage more two-way players in the future.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is a pretty huge deal for the Angels. Ohtani will now be able to stay in games as a hitter even after being lifted as a pitcher starting this year. <a href="https://t.co/bqmve0Iupm">https://t.co/bqmve0Iupm</a> <a href="https://t.co/0vqcnUP27w">pic.twitter.com/0vqcnUP27w</a></p>— Halos Heaven (@halosheaven) <a href="https://twitter.com/halosheaven/status/1506391544474996744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2022</a>
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<p id="vbnpG3">One of the drawbacks to giving up the designated hitter during Ohtani’s starts last year was that the Angels always ran the risk of losing his bat in the lineup and blowing through their bench pinch hitting for the pitcher’s spot if he couldn’t work deep into the game, but because of the new rule, this scenario will no longer be an issue for them going forward. </p>
<p id="Z2onPz">The club—and manager Joe Maddon in particular—had been lobbying for this to happen since the end of last year, and now that they have gotten their wish, the benefits that they will now enjoy because of it are pretty significant. If the rule had been in place in 2021, it would’ve given Ohtani at least 22 more at bats than he ended the season with, a total that doesn’t even include games where he pitched but didn’t hit at all because of the risks mentioned earlier. Any extra Ohtani plate appearance is a good thing for the Halos, and it looks like we’re going to see a lot more of them in 2022.</p>
<h2 id="ZHZpcE">Angels interested in Oakland’s Montas and Manaea</h2>
<p id="Ei0SWn">The Athletics have already gotten through the majority of their long-awaited fire sale over the last week or so, shipping off longtime contributors Matt Olson, Matt Chapman and Chris Bassitt to the Braves, Blue Jays and Mets respectively. They don’t appear to be completely done, however, as a pair of the pitchers still left in their rotation—righty Frankie Montas and lefty Sean Manaea—are still drawing pretty significant interest from clubs around the league.</p>
<p id="CMq7pJ">One of the these teams, <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2F3201649%2F2022%2F03%2F22%2Frosenthal-does-anthony-rizzo-have-regrets-about-his-contract-whats-the-best-wander-franco-memory%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.halosheaven.com%2F2022%2F3%2F23%2F22991783%2Fangels-news-and-notes-arbitration-agreements-new-ohtani-rule-trade-rumors-and-more" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal</a>, is none other than the Angels, who have reportedly checked in with their division rivals on the availability of those two names:</p>
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<p id="Hus2YZ"> The Angels’ bullpen figures to be deeper and much-improved — and it should be, at a combined cost of $92.75 million for free agents Raisel Iglesias, Aaron Loup, Ryan Tepera and Archie Bradley. </p>
<p id="f1XHh9">The team’s two rotation additions, Noah Syndergaard and Michael Lorenzen, cost another $27.75 million, and both come with risk. The Angels are among the teams interested in A’s starters Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea. However, they are likely to be outbid. <em>The Athletic</em>’s Keith Law ranks their system only 23rd in the majors.</p>
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<p id="AYyfNP">As Rosenthal is quick to mention, the likelihood that the Halos manage to swing a deal for either Montas or Manaea isn’t very high, as trying to complete an inter-division trade with their subpar farm system will probably prove to be a difficult task. Either one of them would be pretty significant additions to the club’s rotation, though, and both could be had at pretty manageable prices payroll-wise.</p>
<p id="EhnmDe">Out of those two, Montas would be the biggest get, as he was the better of the two and has an extra year of control over Manaea. The 29-year-old righty was excellent in 2021, posting a 3.37 ERA and FIP while striking out 207 hitters in 187 innings. Manaea was no slouch, though, posting a 3.97 ERA and 3.66 FIP of his own while racking up 194 strikeouts in 179.1 innings.</p>
<p id="Hf6TTe"><a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1506691818011992069?s=20&t=tx86xl9iaoxop6X8orrUlg">In a tweet on Wednesday morning</a>, Rosenthal mentioned that the A’s are more likely to work things out with Manaea before shifting their attention to Montas. Either way, a deal likely has to get done pretty soon considering that Opening Day is just over two weeks away, so the situation is worth monitoring at the very least.</p>
<h2 id="8k4uGe">Pair of pitchers DFAd to make room for Tepera and Bradley</h2>
<p id="kl7stj">When the Angels brought on relievers Ryan Tepera and Archie Bradley last Thursday, it left them needing to make a pair of roster moves into bring their 40-man roster down to the correct amount of players. These moves came earlier this week, with pitchers Packy Naughton and Kyle Tyler both getting designated for assignment.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Packy Naughton was DFA’d to make room for Archie Bradley. They’ll need to make another roster move when Ryan Tepera becomes official.</p>— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) <a href="https://twitter.com/SamBlum3/status/1504863867855257602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kyle Tyler was DFA’d by the Angels to make room for Ryan Tepera. Tepera was in the clubhouse this morning.</p>— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) <a href="https://twitter.com/SamBlum3/status/1505228208668495874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2022</a>
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<p id="ybVUYT">Naughton debuted for the Halos back in August last year and pitched to a 6.35 ERA in seven games (five starts) toward the end of the season. He ended up getting claimed by the Cardinals. Tyler debuted a month after Naughton in September and pitched to a 2.92 ERA across five relief appearances down the stretch. He was claimed by the Red Sox.</p>
https://www.halosheaven.com/2022/3/23/22991783/angels-news-and-notes-arbitration-agreements-new-ohtani-rule-trade-rumors-and-moreColeBailey2022-03-19T12:00:00-07:002022-03-19T12:00:00-07:00Halos Heaven Podcast - March 2022 #13: Angels Bullpen Beefs Up As Spring Training Begins
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<figcaption>RHP Ryan Tepera (Left) & RHP Archie Bradley (Right) acquired via free agency by the Angels on Thursday, March 17. | MLB.com</figcaption>
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<p>A Dynamic Bullpen Emerges Out Of Free Agency As Archie Bradley And Ryan Tepera Join The Halos On The Eve Of Cactus League Opening Day</p> <p id="NtWOAc">Dominick, David and Cole react to Archie Bradley (1-year/$3.75 Million) and Ryan Tepera (2-years/$14 Million) signing via free agency with the Angels and how these moves solidify the back end of the bullpen entering the 2022 season. This episode also features an in depth look at how Matt Duffy effects the starting shortstop battle, who makes the jump in the starting rotation for the sixth slot and if the Angels need to make any other moves before the start of the regular season. </p>
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https://www.halosheaven.com/2022/3/19/22986098/los-angeles-angels-halos-heaven-podcast-march-2022-archie-bradley-ryan-teperaDominick Lorenz2022-03-18T17:54:26-07:002022-03-18T17:54:26-07:00Angels Fall To Oakland In Cactus League Opener
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<img alt="MLB: Spring Training-Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Athletics" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uU7N1iLtu69x4NNJVvjCSwm6tng=/0x0:7469x4979/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70644290/usa_today_17924094.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p><em>Adell And Lorenzen Impress As The First Game Of Spring Goes Off Without A Hitch In the Valley Of The Sun </em></p> <p id="EN2fvq">It’s been 166 days since the last Angels game (October 3 @ Seattle) and having baseball return to Arizona for Spring Training could not feel anymore perfect. With the assortment of moves made in the bullpen of the past few days, much anticipation has gone into this Angels team and what to expect during this 20-game Spring Training schedule. </p>
<p id="jA5ecA">Kicking things off at Hohokam Stadium against the new look Oakland A’s (who have traded away Matt Chapman, Matt Olson and Chris Bassitt over the past week) was newly acquired right-hander Michael Lorenzen. However, before the former Cal State Fullerton Titan could take the field, it was Jo Adell who greeted the Mesa, AZ crowd with a behemoth blast off A’s starter Brent Honeywell Jr. The two-run home run with pure sound off the bat flew just left of the batter’s eye towards the “Hohokam” sign where fans were residing to watch the game. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jo kicking off spring with a no-doubt <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LAASpring?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LAASpring</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Angels?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Angels</a> <a href="https://t.co/Hsi5KH0lzk">pic.twitter.com/Hsi5KH0lzk</a></p>— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) <a href="https://twitter.com/BallySportWest/status/1504915326428925952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2022</a>
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<p id="7y39Z3">With a 2-0 lead, Adell tacked on another RBI hit in the third inning, scoring Brandon Marsh (1-2, R) from third base on a one-out single. The former first round pick completed the day after playing four innings in right field and going 2-for-3 with a Home Run, 3 RBI and a run scored at the plate. </p>
<p id="ALzLny">Lorenzen’s debut in an Angels uniform went swimmingly as well, coasting through two innings with two strikeouts and delivering 22 pitches. His fastball velocity stood between 92-96 MPH and his mechanics proved to be very fluid and clean. It was noted that the plan was to stretch him out until the third inning, but manager Joe Maddon decided against that idea since it was still early in spring. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">First of spring for Lorenzen<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LAASpring?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LAASpring</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Angels?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Angels</a> <a href="https://t.co/les0UygKLg">pic.twitter.com/les0UygKLg</a></p>— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) <a href="https://twitter.com/BallySportWest/status/1504916642702278656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2022</a>
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<p id="gtm8pK">Other notable developments from the game this afternoon was the shortstop competition. Tyler Wade picked up the start with Luis Rengifo at second base and Jack Mayfield at third. All three recorded at least one hit, with the exception of Mayfield who had two, while Wade flashed his speed around the basepath by stealing second in the first inning. Andrew Velazquez checked into the game in relief of Wade in the fourth inning and wasted no time slashing a line drive two-run double, which at the time increased the Halos lead to 5-0. Velazquez played the rest of the game at shortstop going 2-for-3 with 2 RBI and a run scored. Another infield vying to get recognized is fan favorite Michael Stefanic. The standout utility infielder with Triple-A Salt Lake last season went 1-for-1 with a walk, with the lone hit being an RBI double in the sixth inning that added to the Angels lead 7-4. </p>
<p id="ET7KEj">Unfortunately in recent Angels fashion, a late game lead would be tossed to the wayside as the A’s rallied for runs in their final five innings at the plate. The biggest gut punch happened in the bottom of the eighth, courtesy of a three-run home run by Skye Bolt to give Oakland a 10-8 lead, which would inevitably be the final score. </p>
<h1 id="CPz2wa"><strong>SCORING PLAYS </strong></h1>
<p id="Yy5HpE"><strong>2-0 LAA (T1) - </strong>Jo Adell 2-Run HR </p>
<p id="piBtv8"><strong>3-0 LAA (T3)</strong> - Jo Adel RBI Single</p>
<p id="8Nft5i"><strong>5-0 LAA (T4)</strong> - Andrew Velazquez 2-Run Double </p>
<p id="zFdeW9"><strong>5-1 LAA (B4)</strong> - Sean Murphy RBI Double </p>
<p id="n6rKHd"><strong>5-3 LAA (B4)</strong> - Chad Pinder 2-Run Double </p>
<p id="3w4m8H"><strong>6-3 LAA (T5) </strong>- Chad Wallach Solo HR </p>
<p id="Gyfax3"><strong>6-4 LAA (B5)</strong> - Christian Bethancourt RBI Single </p>
<p id="5vs5SN"><strong>7-4 LAA (T6)</strong> - Michael Stefanic 2-Run Double </p>
<p id="2w2n2I"><strong>8-4 LAA (T6)</strong> - Kean Wong Sac-Fly</p>
<p id="fGKEQD"><strong>8-5 LAA (B6)</strong> - Jonah Bride Sac-Fly </p>
<p id="e0tv3y"><strong>8-6 LAA (B7)</strong> - Christian Bethancourt RBI Single </p>
<p id="ZoaPC4"><strong>8-7 LAA (B7)</strong> - Wild Pitch (Buddy Reed scores) </p>
<p id="ogREoX"><strong>10-8 OAK (B8)</strong> - Skye Bolt 3-Run HR</p>
<p id="bZobUJ">Plenty of positives came out of this first game through the eyes of Maddon, who made it known during the postgame show: </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Joe Maddon talks with Erica postgame<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeBelieve?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeBelieve</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Angels?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Angels</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/EricaLWeston?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EricaLWeston</a> <a href="https://t.co/HOsuHL06dR">pic.twitter.com/HOsuHL06dR</a></p>— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) <a href="https://twitter.com/BallySportWest/status/1504969721703239689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2022</a>
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<p id="DNZ3ln">The Angels continue Cactus League action tomorrow afternoon in their home opener at Tempe Diablo Stadium against the Arizona Diamondbacks. RHP Daniel Ponce de Leon will get the starting nod as the Angels will trot out a more “normal” looking lineup that will feature Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Jared Walsh and Justin Upton, amongst others. Game time will be at 1:10pm PT on Bally Sports West. </p>
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<strong>NEWS & NOTES</strong> </h1>
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<li id="0CvB5H">Maddon confirmed Shohei Ohtani will pitch Monday (3/21) against the Kansas City Royals </li>
<li id="s5LKJX">Angels officially announced the signing of RHP Archie Bradley to a 1-year deal </li>
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<p lang="cy" dir="ltr">Arch(ie) Madness<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LAASpring?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LAASpring</a> <a href="https://t.co/BTkSJK8h7C">pic.twitter.com/BTkSJK8h7C</a></p>— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) <a href="https://twitter.com/Angels/status/1504896930698055680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2022</a>
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https://www.halosheaven.com/2022/3/18/22985875/los-angeles-angels-oakland-athletics-jo-adell-michael-lorenzenDominick Lorenz2022-03-17T15:32:56-07:002022-03-17T15:32:56-07:00Angels reportedly sign reliever Ryan Tepera to a two-year deal
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<figcaption>Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The second bullpen upgrade of the day is a big one</p> <p id="hkEvWu">After bringing in <a href="https://www.halosheaven.com/2022/3/17/22982935/angels-reportedly-plan-to-sign-reliever-archie-bradley">Archie Bradley</a> earlier in the day, the Angels made another significant upgrade to their bullpen on Thursday afternoon, as they reportedly reached an agreement on a contract with free agent reliever Ryan Tepera. According to Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors, the deal is for two years and $14 million.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Right-hander Ryan Tepera has agreed to terms with the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Angels?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Angels</a>. Two years and $14MM, per source.</p>— Steve Adams (@Adams_Steve) <a href="https://twitter.com/Adams_Steve/status/1504557934671548427?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2022</a>
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<p id="PMGrmE">Tepera split time with the Cubs and White Sox last year, and he quietly put up one of the better campaigns for a reliever in all of baseball. The 34-year-old righty logged 61.1 innings across 65 games in 2021, where he posted a 2.79 ERA and a 2.73 FIP while striking out 74 batters and walking 19. Over the last two seasons combined, he ranks 14th among all qualified relievers in fWAR, and his 71 ERA- over that time puts him 29 percent above the league average.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Newest <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Angels?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Angels</a> reliever Ryan Tepera in 2021 with the Cubs & White Sox<br><br>61.1 IP (65 Games)<br>1.6 fWAR<br>2.79 ERA<br>2.73 FIP<br>19 BB<br>74 SO<br>0.88 WHIP <br>22 Holds</p>— Halos Heaven (@halosheaven) <a href="https://twitter.com/halosheaven/status/1504565657181962244?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2022</a>
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<p id="Mgv9xl">As mentioned earlier, this is just the latest in a long line of moves that the Halos have made in an effort to significantly upgrade their bullpen. They signed Aaron Loup and re-signed Raisel Iglesias prior to the lockout, and in just the last few hours alone, they have supplemented that duo with both Bradley and now Tepera. Those four alongside holdovers Mike Mayers, Austin Warren and José Quijada look to form the bulk of the ‘pen for next year, and at least on paper, it looks like a group that should be able to lessen the pressure on a starting rotation that has more than its fair share of question marks associated with it.</p>
<p id="Ji9qqm">The two-year deal that the Angels gave Tepera is the third multi-year contract the Angels have given to a pitcher this offseason (joining Iglesias and Loup), a fact that is made notable when you remember that they hadn’t even given out one such contract since all the way back in 2013 when they inked Joe Smith for three years. </p>
<p id="ekOcyg">General manager Perry Minasian looks to be committed to fixing the pitching staff in both 2022 and beyond, though, and with today’s moves, he appears to have built the best bullpen the club has seen in quite some time.</p>
https://www.halosheaven.com/2022/3/17/22983746/angels-reportedly-sign-reliever-ryan-tepera-to-a-two-year-dealColeBailey2022-03-17T09:20:05-07:002022-03-17T09:20:05-07:00Angels reportedly plan to sign reliever Archie Bradley to one-year deal
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<img alt="MLB: Game Two-Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-9g6kyPePjrS5aY15DgP_vXFrXE=/0x0:3116x2077/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70636239/usa_today_16341028.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>More reinforcements for a much improved bullpen</p> <p id="FhnuZr">A day after general manager Perry Minasian said that he was still looking to further improve the Angels’ pitching staff, the club made a move to do just that, reportedly reaching an agreement with free agent reliever Archie Bradley on Thursday morning. According to Sam Blum of The Athletic, the deal and its terms are not final just yet, but Bradley is on his way to Arizona in hopes of getting it done soon.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Source: Archie Bradley has not yet officially signed a contract with the Angels, but it's very close to being a done deal. He's headed to Arizona now.</p>— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) <a href="https://twitter.com/SamBlum3/status/1504465945724477441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2022</a>
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<p id="Wf4fLQ">The 29-year-old Bradley spent last year with the Phillies, where he appeared in 53 games and posted a 3.71 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 51 innings. He has also pitched for the Diamondbacks and Reds during his seven-year big league career, and since becoming a full-time reliever in 2017, only six relievers—Josh Hader, Kenley Jansen, Blake Treinen, Chad Green, Brad Hand and new teammate Raisel Iglesias—have thrown more innings with a lower ERA than his 284.1 and 2.98 marks respectively.</p>
<p id="Q5tigr">Bradley figures to join the back end of the bullpen for the Angels, where he, Iglesias and Aaron Loup look to form one of the better relief trios the club has seen in quite some time. Considering the fact that the group behind those three, which includes Mike Mayers, Austin Warren and José Quijada among others, all had some level of success at the big-league level last year as well, we could potentially see the Halos bullpen be considered an area of strength for the team for the first time since at least 2017 and perhaps further back than that if things go according to plan.</p>
https://www.halosheaven.com/2022/3/17/22982935/angels-reportedly-plan-to-sign-reliever-archie-bradleyColeBailey2022-03-16T16:40:01-07:002022-03-16T16:40:01-07:00Angels sign infielder Matt Duffy to one-year deal
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<figcaption>Image via @Angels</figcaption>
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<p>The veteran last played for the Cubs in 2021</p> <p id="wA0Fzs">The Angels added some infield depth to their roster on Wednesday afternoon, bringing in veteran infielder Matt Duffy on a one-year deal worth $1.5 million.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">OFFICIAL: The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Angels?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Angels</a> have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with INF Matt Duffy. <br><br>Welcome to the Halos, Matt! <a href="https://t.co/PJ4s4IwdE1">pic.twitter.com/PJ4s4IwdE1</a></p>— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) <a href="https://twitter.com/Angels/status/1504227327898648577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2022</a>
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<p id="CM9tnA">Duffy played in 97 games for the Cubs in 2021, hitting .287/.357/.381 with eight home runs and 30 runs batted in, which was good for a perfectly average 100 OPS+. He also stole eight bases in nine attempts on the basepaths, and he racked up three defensive runs saved in the field while playing five different positions (3B, 2B, SS, LF and 1B).</p>
<p id="ifebMb">It is unclear what type of role Duffy will play with the Angels as of now, but he at least figures to <a href="https://twitter.com/SamBlum3/status/1503091259417587714?s=20&t=FGL15Ky2j4ruXAVgICpLDg">compete with Andrew Velazquez, Tyler Wade and Luis Rengifo</a> for the vacant spot at either shortstop or second base. Even if he doesn’t win that spot, though, he’ll likely stick around on the roster as a versatile super-utilityman of sorts.</p>
https://www.halosheaven.com/2022/3/16/22982007/angels-sign-infielder-matt-duffy-to-one-year-dealColeBailey2022-03-12T12:44:08-08:002022-03-12T12:44:08-08:00Angels re-sign catcher Kurt Suzuki to one-year deal
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<img alt="MLB: Toronto Blue Jays at Los Angeles Angels" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yRz0tpDt-WJUzWi4awYTmN8uvxY=/0x0:3600x2400/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70614009/usa_today_16556405.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Their first move post-lockout is to bring back a familiar face</p> <p id="rm6dtn">The Angels reportedly made their first move post-lockout on Saturday afternoon, as according to Robert Murray of Fansided.com, they brought back catcher Kurt Suzuki to a one-year deal worth $1.75 million.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Free-agent catcher Kurt Suzuki and the Los Angeles Angels are in agreement on a one-year, $1.75 million contract, pending physical, according to sources familiar with the situation.</p>— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByRobertMurray/status/1502730631964336131?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2022</a>
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<p id="ycfbtq">The 38-year-old Suzuki seemed headed for retirement after the end of the 2021 season, but now it looks like he will be back with the Halos for a second straight year. He figures to reclaim the backup catcher role behind incumbent starter Max Stassi that he previously occupied, as well as potentially serving as Shohei Ohtani’s personal catcher once again.</p>
<p id="ibbBHP">Last year wasn’t the most productive of Suzuki’s 15 major-league campaigns by any measure, as his typically reliable production at the plate took a pretty significant step backwards. He slashed .224/.292/.342 with six home runs and 16 RBI in 72 games at the dish, good for a wRC+ of 76, and his defense behind the plate graded out as below average by most metrics. The club did not have a clear replacement for Suzuki’s role, though (Matt Thaiss was penciled into that spot before, but he is still getting re-acclimated with the position after many years away), so amid a weak free agent catcher market, they opted for a sense of familiarity by bringing the veteran back.</p>
https://www.halosheaven.com/2022/3/12/22974436/angels-re-sign-catcher-kurt-suzuki-to-one-year-dealColeBailey2022-03-11T14:15:04-08:002022-03-11T14:15:04-08:002022 Spring Training Schedule Revealed
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<img alt="Syndication: Arizona Republic" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1KJpLfDH1smfnjn-ZhVrMvYykGs=/73x0:3328x2170/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70610966/usa_today_17872790.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Tempe Diablo Stadium - Tempe, AZ | Michael Chow / USA TODAY NETWORK</figcaption>
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<p>March 18 Will Be The Magical Day The Angels Hit The Field Once Again </p> <p id="9Eg0pi">Following yesterday’s MLB & MLBPA new CBA Agreement to end the 99-day lockout, Major League Baseball this afternoon released the revised 2022 Spring Training schedule for all teams in the Cactus and Grapefruit League. </p>
<p id="6i6OoT">With the <a href="https://www.mlb.com/schedule/2022-03-17">revised schedule</a> now in place, the Angels will play 18 games in a 20-day period with off days on Thursday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 30. Seven games with be played at Tempe Diablo Stadium, while eight will take place at other spring training complexes in the Cactus League area. Per usual, the Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers will conclude the preseason with a three-game Freeway Series from April 3-5 with the first game at Angel Stadium and the final two at Chavez Ravine. </p>
<p id="gYTsMq">Here is the complete list of games with times still listed as TBD: </p>
<ul>
<li id="avbjWL"><em><strong>3/17: OFF</strong></em></li>
<li id="MuldjH">
<strong>3/18:</strong> @ Oakland A’s (Hohokam Stadium - Mesa, AZ)</li>
<li id="BCUyQw">
<strong>3/19:</strong> vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (Tempe Diablo Stadium - Tempe, AZ)</li>
<li id="L070wV">
<strong>3/20:</strong> @ Seattle Mariners (Peoria Sports Complex - Peoria, AZ)</li>
<li id="SYgvg0">
<strong>3/21:</strong> vs. Kansas City Royals (Tempe Diablo Stadium - Tempe, AZ)</li>
<li id="5YpnrG">
<strong>3/22:</strong> vs. Colorado Rockies (Tempe Diablo Stadium - Tempe, AZ)</li>
<li id="heeSND">
<strong>3/23:</strong> @ San Diego Padres (Peoria Sports Complex - Peoria, AZ)</li>
<li id="Lwu4pT">
<strong>3/24:</strong> vs. Chicago Cubs (Tempe Diablo Stadium - Tempe, AZ)</li>
<li id="If3eep">
<strong>3/25:</strong> @ Arizona Diamondbacks (Salt River Fields at Talking Stick - Scottsdale, AZ) </li>
<li id="5wAQ6p">
<strong>3/26:</strong> @ Chicago White Sox (Camelback Ranch - Glendale, AZ)</li>
<li id="zdaglc">
<strong>3/27:</strong> vs. San Francisco Giants (Tempe Diablo Stadium - Tempe, AZ)</li>
<li id="MJADQY">
<strong>3/28:</strong> vs. Oakland A’s (Tempe Diablo Stadium - Tempe, AZ)</li>
<li id="KP4umc">
<strong>3/29:</strong> @ Colorado Rockies (Salt River Fields at Talking Stick - Scottsdale, AZ) </li>
<li id="piLyEi"><em><strong>3/30 - OFF</strong></em></li>
<li id="kcHSjx">
<strong>3/31:</strong> @ Milwaukee Brewers (American Family Fields of Phoenix - Phoenix, AZ)</li>
<li id="tBRKwh">
<strong>4/1:</strong> vs. Cincinatti Reds (Tempe Diablo Stadium - Tempe, AZ)</li>
<li id="PUarUy">
<strong>4/2: </strong>@ Chicago Cubs (Sloan Park - Mesa, AZ) </li>
<li id="1OuPxI">
<strong>4/3:</strong> vs. Los Angeles Dodgers* </li>
<li id="aYKOsM">
<strong>4/4:</strong> @ Los Angeles Dodgers** </li>
<li id="WnqbdX">
<strong>4/5:</strong> @ Los Angeles Dodgers**</li>
</ul>
<p id="bBym30"><em>*Angel Stadium / **Dodger Stadium </em></p>
<p id="Yru425">As a reminder, the Angels regular season begins on Thursday, April 7 with a four-game series against the Houston Astros, followed by a mini two-game series against the Miami Marlins at Angel Stadium. A full 162-game season is planned with the first two series of the season (4 games @ Oakland and 2 games @ Seattle) being made up as part of 9-inning doubleheaders throughout the regular season. </p>
https://www.halosheaven.com/2022/3/11/22973330/los-angeles-angels-2022-spring-training-schedule-revealedDominick Lorenz