The Angels have brought right-hander Fernando Salas back into the fold on a minor league pact, the team’s Triple-A affiliate announced this weekend (Twitter link). The 32-year-old Salas, who was recently released by the Mets after a down season, has already tossed a scoreless frame for the Angels’ Triple-A affiliate in Salt Lake City. He’s represented by Paragon Sports.
Salas is a known commodity for much of the Angels organization, having spent the better part of three seasons there from 2014-16. In 178 1/3 innings as a member of the Angels, Salas pitched to a 4.03 ERA with 9.1 K/9 against 2.3 BB/9. His first tenure with the club ultimately ended when he was flipped to the Mets in an August swap 53 weeks ago. That trade was initially a boon for the Mets’ relief corps, as Salas hurled 17 1/3 innings with just four runs allowed on 11 hits and no walks with 19 strikeouts.
That run of dominance prompted a return to Queens on a one-year, $3MM contract this offseason, but Salas’ second year with the Mets didn’t match the first. In 45 innings this season, he logged an even 6.00 ERA. Much of those struggles were due to a .379 BABIP that looks rather fluky, but Salas also averaged 4.0 walks per nine innings pitched — his worst mark since 2012 — and allowed hard contact at a 37.4 percent clip (the second-worst mark of his career). Conversely, Salas’ 9.4 K/9 rate was the second-highest mark in any of his eight MLB seasons, and his 45.1 percent ground-ball rate was easily a career-high.
The Angels will only owe Salas the pro-rated portion of the league minimum for any time he spends in the Majors, as the Mets will be on the hook for the remainder of his contract. With a solid showing in Triple-A, Salas could very well emerge as an option for the Angels in the season’s final month, perhaps helping to pick up some of the slack following Anaheim’s trade of fellow righty David Hernandez to the Diamondbacks.
You’ve got to be kidding me! How bout getting a big bat to protect Trout and move Pujols to the 5 spot so we can make a push to the playoffs
LOL, really think that will happen past the trade deadline, lol chill out man
It’s a minor league deal.
I see this coming
Revocable waiver trade dead line is 8/31 LOL look before you leap
The revocable trade deadline is immaterial as far as that middle-of-the-order bat that you’re dreaming on.
Angels couldn’t even convince Detroit to give up Kinsler on a waiver deal. Who else could possibly clear who would be possible to acquire and worth acquiring?
The Tigers put Kinsler on waivers with the intention of him clearing and working out a deal with any team at any time.
Not sure I can hold my breath long enough to watch salas pitch in Anaheim again. Terribly homer prone in high leverage situations. We have enough pitchers struggling to keep it in the park on the roster already
Horrible signed up… We needed a second baseman with a good stick and another SP…
It’s a minor league deal.
There not going to make a deal we going to ride it out but Texas has are number so after this series we won’t be in the race
The 10-1 slaughtering and no more Darvish disagrees with you.
how does one series take you out of a series even if you get swept
NO!!!!!!!
Obviously you cannot have enough pitching. I refer to the disabled list. And this signing is on the cheap. Yes the Angels need bats but we need pitching too.
I see Bud leaving soon. This could be a short term plug. The
Why??? Now trade for Blanton