The Angels have selected the contract of left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes and designated infielder Grant Green for assignment to clear space on the 40-man roster, team director of communications Eric Kay announced (on Twitter).
Green, a former first-round pick of the Athletics and Top 100 prospect, was acquired by the Angels in an intradivision trade that sent Alberto Callaspo to Oakland prior to the 2013 non-waiver trade deadline. Now 28 year of age, Green has been up and down between the Majors and Triple-A over the past three seasons with Anaheim but has failed to translate his considerable minor league success to the big leagues. The USC product has compiled a healthy .311/.354/.474 batting line in the admittedly hitter-friendly Triple-A Pacific Coast League, but he’s struggled to a .263/.299/.353 line in 284 plate appearances with the Angels dating back to that trade.
Green has experience at all four infield positions, though the vast majority of his work there in the Majors has come at second base, and defensive metrics like UZR and DRS haven’t given a ringing endorsement of his work at any position. He’s also logged 127 big league innings in left field. If he goes unclaimed by another team, Green would be outrighted, and he has enough pro experience to qualify for minor league free agency at season’s end, so he could be looking at a new organization in 2016.
As for Reyes, the 30-year-old will be returning to the Majors for the first time since the 2011 season, when he tossed a combined 140 2/3 innings for the Blue Jays and Orioles. Reyes came up with the Braves as a 22-year-old in 2007 and has worked to a 6.05 ERA over the life of 334 2/3 big league frames. He had posted a 4.76 ERA in 68 innings at the Triple-A level this season after enjoying success in the Mexican League earlier in 2015.
He’s a good player, or at least better than most waiver wire pieces, so I would imagine someone takes a flier on him.
Jo-Jo Reyes, your life is calling! Again!