The Los Angeles Angels announced a number of roster moves today. Luis Rengifo and Ryan Buchter have been recalled from the team’s alternate site, while Hoby Milner hits the 10-day IL and the recently-acquired Franklin Barreto has been placed on the COVID-19 injured list.
Barreto’s placement on the COVID IL is a matter of protocol, as it will take a couple of days to complete the intakes tests before joining his new squad. Barreto was acquired on Friday in a straight-up swap for Tommy La Stella. La Stella, however, is already in the Oakland lineup for tonight’s game against the Astros.
Rengifo re-joins the club and figures to get some extra playing time at the keystone until Barreto passes testing protocols. David Fletcher steps in as the de facto everyday second baseman now that Andrelton Simmons has returned to shortstop. Fletcher, however, can play all over the diamond and will likely continue to do so in order to give some run to Rengifo and/or Barreto.
Presumably, Maddon and the Angels will give time to all three players with the hopes of clarifying their second baseman arsenal ahead of 2021. Thus far, Barreto has managed just a 50 wRC+ mark in 211 at bats spread across four seasons, while Rengifo saw semi-regular playing time last year in his debut season. He’s off to a slow start this year, however. In total, Rengifo owns a 82 wRC+ mark across 466 at bats.
On the pitching side, Milner heads to the injured list with right back spasms. The move is retroactive to August 26th. Milner, 29, has been utilized liberally this season out of the pen by Maddon. Across 11 appearances, the journeyman southpaw has managed a 3.86 ERA with 6 strikeouts to 2 walks in 7 innings.
Buchter takes over at least temporarily as a lefty option for Maddon. The former Oakland Athletic has made 9 appearances this season with the Angels, sporting a 5.40 ERA across 5 innings. Like Milner, the 33-year-old Buchter has been called upon fairly often, but rarely for more than a couple of batters at a time.
When Simmons is traded before the deadline, Fletcher will be the SS. Rengifo may be traded or be the 2B, shared with Barreto.
Makes sense.
If the Angels want to get weaker at pitching, defense and hitting they should trade Simmons.
Might as well shoot for the top draft pick at this point.
exactly
Good luck.
The Pirates already have a really bad team and they are about to trade half of it.
Pirates already of rid of the .100 hotting Dyson.
I dunno. This seems like the worst year to have a top draft pick. You will have virtually no recent scouting information and the players won’t have played for over a year and you still have to pay them a lot of money. Of course that is assuming that spring sports might not happen again for HS and college players.
Depends college and HS baseball begins in February if there is a vaccine or some sort safety protocol for the players, coaches and umpires.
I don’t see how this isn’t a perfect match. They both have vested interest for a 1 or 2 year “show me” deal.
Why is one guy in the lineup and another in the intake process.
Angels request he go they the protocol, the A’s didn’t
Angels aren’t rushing Barreto in. Might as well give him time to adjust and let Rengifo get a couple of reps. La Stella is needed in the A’s lineup, so they rushed him as quickly as possible. Makes sense since we’re waving the white flag.
Perhaps the Angels test more often than or at least more recent than the A’s, maybe they got results with his physical