Prior to arriving in Los Angeles, Plesac spent five seasons with the Cleveland Guardians, who picked him in the 12th round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of Ball State. During his time in Cleveland, he went 26-27 for the Guardians with a 4.20 ERA in 84 games (83 starts), striking out 359 batters in 466⅔ innings.

Kolarek, who was recently shifted to Salt Lake, was signed by the Angels in November as a free agent. He played for both the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets in 2023, not giving up a run in six innings spread over five relief appearances.

The post Zach Plesac Agrees to $1 Million Deal With Los Angeles Angels appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Rendon suffered a leg injury in July and has been slow to return to baseball activities. The Angels obviously feel that he doesn’t have enough time to be fully ready for action by the end of the 2023 campaign and have decided to take a cautious approach with the 2024 season in mind. 

Since joining the Angels on a seven-year, $245 million contract ahead of the 2020 season, Rendon struggled to remain healthy. He never played more than 58 games in a single season with the Angels as he dealt with groin and hamstring issues. The 33-year-old also underwent two surgeries, one on his hip and the other on his right wrist, during his time in LA.

Rendon will finish the 2023 campaign, having played in 43 games. He batted .236 while hitting two home runs and getting 22 RBIs.

The Angels have previously also shut down their two-way star Shohei Ohtani and first-year pitcher Tyler Anderson for the remainder of the season. Star center fielder Mike Trout also remains out, although he expressed the intention to return before the regular season wraps up.

The post Angels Shut Down 3B Anthony Rendon for the 2023 Season appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Ohtani suffered a torn UCL in his right elbow in August and will undergo “some type of procedure” after gathering all medical opinions. A potential Tommy John surgery, which would be the second for Ohtani since arriving to MLB in 2018, would rule him out as a pitcher for the entire 2024 and possibly longer.

Some analysts believed the long recovery period and a smaller chance of success could cause Ohtani to give up on pitching, but Balelo made it clear that this isn’t an option.

“There’s not a question in his mind that he’s going to come back, and he’s going to continue to do both,” Balelo told reporters on Monday.

Balelo added that Ohtani will be ready to play as a Designated Hitter for the Opening Day of the 2024 campaign.

 “There’s not one thing he can’t do right now when it comes to DHing,” Balelo shared. “He can lift, he can run, he can slide, take violent swings. He can do anything he wants right now. It doesn’t affect the problem in question.”

Ohtani will be a free agent once the 2023 MLB season ends. He is expected to receive the largest contract in MLB history, although the numbers might not be as high as projected before the injury.

The post Shohei Ohtani Plans to Hit in 2024, Will Remain a Two-Way Player appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Murphy didn’t get a chance to play for the Angels this season and instead spent time with Salt Lake Bees. He batted .295 with one homer and 25 RBI in 38 games he played for the Bees.

Murphy made his MLB debut with the New York Mets in 2008, spending eight years with the organization before embarking on stints with the Washington Nationals, the Chicago Cubs, and the Colorado Rockies. He was an All-Star three times and received the NLCS MVP award in the 2015 postseason, which saw him hit a home run in six straight games.

Murphy initially retired from baseball after shortened 2020 MLB season, which he spent with the Colorado Rockies. He walked away with a .296 batting average, 138 homers, and 735 RBIs for his MLB career.

 He unretired earlier this year, suiting up for the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The 38-year-old had a batting average of .331 with two home runs and 19 RBI during his time with the Ducks, which prompted a call from the Angels.

The post Veteran Infielder Daniel Murphy Ends His MLB Comeback Bid, Retires for the Second Time appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Angels gave up minor league pitcher Mason Albright and right-hander Jake Madden as part of the deal. It is a homecoming of sorts for Grichuk and Cron, as they both were drafted by the LA team.

Grichuk will give the Angels more versatility in the outfield due to his ability to play all three positions. He has been batting .308 with eight home runs and 27 RBIs so far in 2023.

Cron, on the other hand, has a batting average of .260 this season with 11 homers and 32 RBIs. He will most likely split the first base duties with Mike Moustakas, whom the Angels also acquired from the Rockies back in June.

This is the second major move that the Angels have executed this past week. The organization also bolstered their rotation by acquiring right-hand pitcher Lucas Giolito and increased their bullpen depth with Reynaldo Lopez. Both Giolito and Lopez arrived in a trade from the Chicago White Sox.

The Los Angeles Angels are currently in the midst of a postseason hunt. They are third in AL West with a 55-51 record, having won seven out of their past 10 games. They trail 5.5 games behind division leaders Texas Rangers and are four games removed from the final wild-card spot.

The post Angels Acquire OF Randal Grichuk and 1B C.J. Cron in a Trade With the Rockies appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Trout took a hard swing on a pitch from Nick Martinez and immediately started shaking his left hand. He then called for assistance from the dugout and was eventually replaced by Mickey Moniak. 

Speaking with reporters after the game, Trout said that “something felt uncomfortable” in his wrist after the swing. He had X-rays in his wrist shortly after the game and is currently awaiting the results.

“It doesn’t feel great. I mean, there’s no two ways to it,” Trout added. “Hopefully, just a sprained wrist. I can’t describe the pain I felt. I had never felt it before, ever before this. I never had wrist problems or anything. Just freak things.”

Injuries have been a recurring theme for Trout in recent years. He dealt with a number of health issues, including torn calf and back disorders that limited him to 36 games in 2021 and 119 games in 2022.

This year, Trout seemed like he left the issues behind. He played all but six games in 2023, batting .263 with 18 homers and 44 RBIs. The 31-year-old was selected into this season’s All-Star team, marking his 11th selection. 

The post Angels’ Star Mike Trout Suffers Wrist Injury: “It Doesn’t Feel Great” appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Urshela got hurt in last week’s game against the Texas Rangers. He was trying to make a play when he fell down awkwardly at the first base and fractured his pelvis as a result.

The 31-year-old player won’t require surgery but will have to spend significant time on the sidelines. According to Nevin, Urshela needs to rest for at least six weeks and would require an additional six weeks to return to game action. This basically means that he won’t have a chance to get back to the field in 2023 in even the most optimistic scenario.

The Angels acquired Gio Urshela back in November in a trade with the Minnesota Twins. Urshela has been having a solid campaign for the LA team before going down, batting .299 with two home runs and 24 RBIs.

The reason why the loss of Urshela is a big blow for the Angels is that he was able to cover all infield positions. He also provided them with a capable replacement for slugger Anthony Rendon, who is prone to injuries. 

The post Angles’ Infielder Gio Urshela to Miss the Remainder of 2023 MLB Season appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

During the ninth inning, O’Hoppe lined a 2-2 sweeper into the leftfield corner when he fell to the ground, grabbing at his left shoulder. This was the resurgence of discomfort that O’Hoppe previously experienced during Monday’s 5-4 win at Boston.

“I think in Boston it freaked me out more,” the rookie admitted after the game. “This time, it hurt a little bit more just because I knew it was the same thing. It didn’t feel as bad, this one, but I was just more aware. I felt it pop, come out the back, and will be evaluated the next couple days. Let’s hope it’s nothing too serious.”

O’Hoppe was acquired by the Angels last season in a trade that saw outfielder Brandon Marsh head to the Philadelphia Phillies. Having hit .283 with four homers and 13 RBI, the 23-year-old player is considered a top candidate for AL Rookie of the Year.

The post Angels Rookie O’Hoppe Departs 3-Hit Game With Shoulder Injury appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Speaking with reporters on Monday, Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, was asked if there is a possibility that his client would sign an extension during spring training. While Balelo left the door open for that scenario, he also insisted that Ohtani “earned the right” to explore free agency.

“I’ve always been open to it,” Balelo said. “But there’s several layers to this one, and Shohei’s earned the right to play through the year, explore free agency, and we’ll see where it shakes out.”

Considered one of the best players in the game, Ohtani is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2023 season. He is expected to command the first $500 million contract in baseball history, with several teams reportedly willing to hit this mark with that kind of offer if they get the chance. The New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers will most likely be the most aggressive in their pursuit, but there are several sleeper options, including the Chicago Cubs and the San Francisco Giants.

Since coming to MLB ahead of the 2018 season, Ohtani has played on an elite level as both hitter and a pitcher. He earned two All-Star nods and four All-MLB selections while also being named AL MVP in 2021.

But despite Ohtani’s performances, the Angels failed to find success as a team. They not only missed playoffs in each of the five years Ohtani has been on the team but also failed to post a single winning season.

The post Shohei Ohtani’s Agent Says His Client “Earned the Right” to Explore Free Agency appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

2022 proved to be a breakout season for Drury, with the 30-year-old player hitting .263/.320/.492 with 28 home runs and 87 RBIs en route to his Silver Slugger victory.

Prior to his tenure with the Cincinnati Reds in 2020, Drury bounced around between a multitude of teams. He was drafted during the 13th round of the 2015 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Diamondbacks, where he played for two years before making his way to the New York Yankees. He later had stints at the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, and the San Diego Padres.

Prior to the 2022 season, Drury recorded 51 home runs in 1,589 appearances throughout his career.

The post Brandon Drury Agrees to Two-Year Deal With Angels appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Prior to arriving in Los Angeles, Plesac spent five seasons with the Cleveland Guardians, who picked him in the 12th round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of Ball State. During his time in Cleveland, he went 26-27 for the Guardians with a 4.20 ERA in 84 games (83 starts), striking out 359 batters in 466⅔ innings.

Kolarek, who was recently shifted to Salt Lake, was signed by the Angels in November as a free agent. He played for both the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets in 2023, not giving up a run in six innings spread over five relief appearances.

The post Zach Plesac Agrees to $1 Million Deal With Los Angeles Angels appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Rendon suffered a leg injury in July and has been slow to return to baseball activities. The Angels obviously feel that he doesn’t have enough time to be fully ready for action by the end of the 2023 campaign and have decided to take a cautious approach with the 2024 season in mind. 

Since joining the Angels on a seven-year, $245 million contract ahead of the 2020 season, Rendon struggled to remain healthy. He never played more than 58 games in a single season with the Angels as he dealt with groin and hamstring issues. The 33-year-old also underwent two surgeries, one on his hip and the other on his right wrist, during his time in LA.

Rendon will finish the 2023 campaign, having played in 43 games. He batted .236 while hitting two home runs and getting 22 RBIs.

The Angels have previously also shut down their two-way star Shohei Ohtani and first-year pitcher Tyler Anderson for the remainder of the season. Star center fielder Mike Trout also remains out, although he expressed the intention to return before the regular season wraps up.

The post Angels Shut Down 3B Anthony Rendon for the 2023 Season appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Ohtani suffered a torn UCL in his right elbow in August and will undergo “some type of procedure” after gathering all medical opinions. A potential Tommy John surgery, which would be the second for Ohtani since arriving to MLB in 2018, would rule him out as a pitcher for the entire 2024 and possibly longer.

Some analysts believed the long recovery period and a smaller chance of success could cause Ohtani to give up on pitching, but Balelo made it clear that this isn’t an option.

“There’s not a question in his mind that he’s going to come back, and he’s going to continue to do both,” Balelo told reporters on Monday.

Balelo added that Ohtani will be ready to play as a Designated Hitter for the Opening Day of the 2024 campaign.

 “There’s not one thing he can’t do right now when it comes to DHing,” Balelo shared. “He can lift, he can run, he can slide, take violent swings. He can do anything he wants right now. It doesn’t affect the problem in question.”

Ohtani will be a free agent once the 2023 MLB season ends. He is expected to receive the largest contract in MLB history, although the numbers might not be as high as projected before the injury.

The post Shohei Ohtani Plans to Hit in 2024, Will Remain a Two-Way Player appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Murphy didn’t get a chance to play for the Angels this season and instead spent time with Salt Lake Bees. He batted .295 with one homer and 25 RBI in 38 games he played for the Bees.

Murphy made his MLB debut with the New York Mets in 2008, spending eight years with the organization before embarking on stints with the Washington Nationals, the Chicago Cubs, and the Colorado Rockies. He was an All-Star three times and received the NLCS MVP award in the 2015 postseason, which saw him hit a home run in six straight games.

Murphy initially retired from baseball after shortened 2020 MLB season, which he spent with the Colorado Rockies. He walked away with a .296 batting average, 138 homers, and 735 RBIs for his MLB career.

 He unretired earlier this year, suiting up for the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The 38-year-old had a batting average of .331 with two home runs and 19 RBI during his time with the Ducks, which prompted a call from the Angels.

The post Veteran Infielder Daniel Murphy Ends His MLB Comeback Bid, Retires for the Second Time appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Angels gave up minor league pitcher Mason Albright and right-hander Jake Madden as part of the deal. It is a homecoming of sorts for Grichuk and Cron, as they both were drafted by the LA team.

Grichuk will give the Angels more versatility in the outfield due to his ability to play all three positions. He has been batting .308 with eight home runs and 27 RBIs so far in 2023.

Cron, on the other hand, has a batting average of .260 this season with 11 homers and 32 RBIs. He will most likely split the first base duties with Mike Moustakas, whom the Angels also acquired from the Rockies back in June.

This is the second major move that the Angels have executed this past week. The organization also bolstered their rotation by acquiring right-hand pitcher Lucas Giolito and increased their bullpen depth with Reynaldo Lopez. Both Giolito and Lopez arrived in a trade from the Chicago White Sox.

The Los Angeles Angels are currently in the midst of a postseason hunt. They are third in AL West with a 55-51 record, having won seven out of their past 10 games. They trail 5.5 games behind division leaders Texas Rangers and are four games removed from the final wild-card spot.

The post Angels Acquire OF Randal Grichuk and 1B C.J. Cron in a Trade With the Rockies appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Trout took a hard swing on a pitch from Nick Martinez and immediately started shaking his left hand. He then called for assistance from the dugout and was eventually replaced by Mickey Moniak. 

Speaking with reporters after the game, Trout said that “something felt uncomfortable” in his wrist after the swing. He had X-rays in his wrist shortly after the game and is currently awaiting the results.

“It doesn’t feel great. I mean, there’s no two ways to it,” Trout added. “Hopefully, just a sprained wrist. I can’t describe the pain I felt. I had never felt it before, ever before this. I never had wrist problems or anything. Just freak things.”

Injuries have been a recurring theme for Trout in recent years. He dealt with a number of health issues, including torn calf and back disorders that limited him to 36 games in 2021 and 119 games in 2022.

This year, Trout seemed like he left the issues behind. He played all but six games in 2023, batting .263 with 18 homers and 44 RBIs. The 31-year-old was selected into this season’s All-Star team, marking his 11th selection. 

The post Angels’ Star Mike Trout Suffers Wrist Injury: “It Doesn’t Feel Great” appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Urshela got hurt in last week’s game against the Texas Rangers. He was trying to make a play when he fell down awkwardly at the first base and fractured his pelvis as a result.

The 31-year-old player won’t require surgery but will have to spend significant time on the sidelines. According to Nevin, Urshela needs to rest for at least six weeks and would require an additional six weeks to return to game action. This basically means that he won’t have a chance to get back to the field in 2023 in even the most optimistic scenario.

The Angels acquired Gio Urshela back in November in a trade with the Minnesota Twins. Urshela has been having a solid campaign for the LA team before going down, batting .299 with two home runs and 24 RBIs.

The reason why the loss of Urshela is a big blow for the Angels is that he was able to cover all infield positions. He also provided them with a capable replacement for slugger Anthony Rendon, who is prone to injuries. 

The post Angles’ Infielder Gio Urshela to Miss the Remainder of 2023 MLB Season appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

During the ninth inning, O’Hoppe lined a 2-2 sweeper into the leftfield corner when he fell to the ground, grabbing at his left shoulder. This was the resurgence of discomfort that O’Hoppe previously experienced during Monday’s 5-4 win at Boston.

“I think in Boston it freaked me out more,” the rookie admitted after the game. “This time, it hurt a little bit more just because I knew it was the same thing. It didn’t feel as bad, this one, but I was just more aware. I felt it pop, come out the back, and will be evaluated the next couple days. Let’s hope it’s nothing too serious.”

O’Hoppe was acquired by the Angels last season in a trade that saw outfielder Brandon Marsh head to the Philadelphia Phillies. Having hit .283 with four homers and 13 RBI, the 23-year-old player is considered a top candidate for AL Rookie of the Year.

The post Angels Rookie O’Hoppe Departs 3-Hit Game With Shoulder Injury appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Speaking with reporters on Monday, Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, was asked if there is a possibility that his client would sign an extension during spring training. While Balelo left the door open for that scenario, he also insisted that Ohtani “earned the right” to explore free agency.

“I’ve always been open to it,” Balelo said. “But there’s several layers to this one, and Shohei’s earned the right to play through the year, explore free agency, and we’ll see where it shakes out.”

Considered one of the best players in the game, Ohtani is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2023 season. He is expected to command the first $500 million contract in baseball history, with several teams reportedly willing to hit this mark with that kind of offer if they get the chance. The New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers will most likely be the most aggressive in their pursuit, but there are several sleeper options, including the Chicago Cubs and the San Francisco Giants.

Since coming to MLB ahead of the 2018 season, Ohtani has played on an elite level as both hitter and a pitcher. He earned two All-Star nods and four All-MLB selections while also being named AL MVP in 2021.

But despite Ohtani’s performances, the Angels failed to find success as a team. They not only missed playoffs in each of the five years Ohtani has been on the team but also failed to post a single winning season.

The post Shohei Ohtani’s Agent Says His Client “Earned the Right” to Explore Free Agency appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

2022 proved to be a breakout season for Drury, with the 30-year-old player hitting .263/.320/.492 with 28 home runs and 87 RBIs en route to his Silver Slugger victory.

Prior to his tenure with the Cincinnati Reds in 2020, Drury bounced around between a multitude of teams. He was drafted during the 13th round of the 2015 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Diamondbacks, where he played for two years before making his way to the New York Yankees. He later had stints at the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, and the San Diego Padres.

Prior to the 2022 season, Drury recorded 51 home runs in 1,589 appearances throughout his career.

The post Brandon Drury Agrees to Two-Year Deal With Angels appeared first on yoursportspot.com.