The Angels have signed outfielder Scott Schebler to a minor league contract, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports (Twitter link). Schebler will earn $900K in guaranteed money if he reaches the team’s big-league roster.
Schebler is best known for his days as a regular for the Reds from 2016-18, as he hit .248/.323/.457 with 56 homers in 1243 plate appearances over that three-season stretch (including a 30-homer campaign in 2017). Shoulder problems and struggles at the plate limited Schebler to just 30 games in 2019, however, and Cincinnati cut ties after trading him to the Braves last July. Schebler’s 2020 season consisted of just one game and one plate appearance in an Atlanta uniform before he was outrighted off the 40-man roster and sent to the Braves’ alternate training site.
While Schebler has spent much of his time as a right fielder, he has experience at all three outfield positions and displayed some decent glovework. That could give him an advantage in breaking camp with Los Angeles next spring, as the Halos are thin on outfield depth behind their projected starting trio of Jo Adell, Mike Trout, and Justin Upton.
Given Adell’s inexperience and Upton’s very rough 2020 season, having a veteran like Schebler on hand could be of particular help — ideally, Schebler could somewhat replace Brian Goodwin, who the Angels dealt to the Reds last August. It’s probably safe to assume that the Angels will bring at least a couple more veterans on minors contracts into camp (if not a more prominent acquisition) to battle for outfield jobs, and top prospect Brandon Marsh will also be in the mix.
The signing marks the first notable move for newly-hired Angels GM Perry Minasian, and it perhaps isn’t surprising that Minasian turned to a known quantity. As Nightengale points out, Minasian worked as Atlanta’s assistant GM when the Braves picked up Schebler last summer.
Hasn’t done much the past 2 years, but he is definitely good depth if Adell can’t figure it out on the big league stage.
Agree…. The outfield could use depth. What does it hurt to see what he’s got? Who are you blocking? Why would you not do this?
First signing by the new Angels general manager.
He signed a couple minor leaguers his first day on the job
Jhonathan Diaz is very good btw
what for? are they trading away young outfielders?
Vizion. Look who played outfield for the Angels last year.
Ward, Hermosillia? Marsh is not going to be a 4th outfielder this year. Upton is not sitting on the bench. So who is going to be the 4th outfielder?
There is room, he’s fine.
Upton better sit on the bench.
Read the freakin article.
Looks like his season stats have been trending in the right direction the past few years. Honest question – what can he bring to the Angels?
Depth. We currently have an opening for 4th outfielder he can fill
This looks like a replacement for Brian Goodwin for OF depth, especially with Jo Adell and Brandon Marsh both standing at the door now.
Poor man’s Brian Goodwin, who is a poor man’s Whit Merrifield, who is a poor man’s Mike Trout… sooo… Mike Trout >>> Scott Schebler.
Bold claim buddy
i mean…he’s not exactly wrong
Unlike Goodwin, he can catch and throw the ball
Darkside, It is a funny connection of the dots.
No it isn’t.
You need to start using capitalization and punctuation. Also “i mean…” is a very valley girl way to start a sentence.
You need to stop pretending you are the Editor of the NYT. DarkSide830 is a very knowledgeable and highly respected commenter on this site. You (and I) are not. This is a baseball comment board. Get over yourself and get with the program.
I mean that’s your opinion
Goodwin and Merrifield are nothing alike, but Schebler and Goodwin are great comps
Maybin’s available.
I mean that’s like totally like not true.
Mike Trout >>> MLB.
super big jump from merrifield to trout there buddy lol
Trout > Merrifield > Goodwin > Schebler
Where > means “is greater than.” Clearer now?
This guy is bad, I don’t think this was a good move, but it would help at depth I guess. This guy could be good if he gets back to doing what he was doing a few years ago.
He averaged about 1 WAR a season while playing a part time role until he got hurt late in 2019. Not an all star, not a starter on a good team. Good enough to be a depth player.
No such thing as a bad minor league deal.
Jose Bautista as a pitcher would be. Or Manny Ramirez comeback attempt no. 51
placeholder. marsh will be taking Upton spot eventually. I’d rather have Goodwin. man I liked him
The Angels didn’t have very many good wins.
Anyway marsh goes to first until then though(big kid who fits the bill), let him get reps to keep his bat in the lineup. Perhaps platoon with pujols? Just a thought. Not saying he can play a good first I literally just don’t know. Just keep hearing how good this guys supposed to be, and if that’s the case you would think you want his bat in the lineup anyway possible.
Cey, Upton will take over much of the DH role in 2022. Upton will get every opportunity to see if his last month of the season is a mirage. 303/398/605.
I think there is a lot left in his game. He just turned 33 and has 300 lifetime HRs 119 OPS+. I don’t think he’s done.
I could see Schebler in RF for the Angels on opening day. Adell was overmatched and needs more time in the minor leagues and the Angels are not likely to start the clock on Marsh til mid may if he’s ready
You’re forgetting about Taylor Ward
Ward can play the corners IF/OF so he would likely be moving around
Angels are a team that seems horribly lost. They remind me of the NYM under the Wilpons. A big market team with no clue. They are in some ways even more pitiful since they do spend money on bigtime FAs.
No exactly lost, just injured all the time. Free agent signings dont pan out, struck out on a few starting pitching free agents in recent years. We aren’t exactly the giants before Zaidi. The rumors of an angel rebuild and all the talk you hear on this website, was probably never even a thought in Artes front office. There’s a clear vision, just hasn’t worked out yet
Spend until you win really isn’t a vision as much as it is just bad baseball sense. Its understandable to miss on some free agent signings but almost all big money deals the Angels sign don’t end up working
@Andrewg
Rsox has a good point. The FO / owner combination is really not delivering anything special. They’re a one trick pony – they spend big bucks. Theres no plan B When the signing doesn’t work out ( all too often an occurrence) or there’s an injury.
Add in that any idiot would know that they’d someday be signing Trout to the biggest contract in baseball and you had to build a roster that worked around that salary commitment. They didn’t do it. Signing Rondon is a lazy man’s approach to roster building. It reeks of the same dumb philosophy that put Pujols on the team. Sad as it is – they are locked into a level below elite teams and won’t even have enough volatility to generate the occasional big season like dynamic small market teams. They will always be mediocre till they stop using big FA contracts as a corner stone to build the team
Minasian just got there! Give him a minute before you trash him.
It may look that way from the casual observer. But in reality we’re not thar far off.
Maddon has had some time to see what is working and whats not.
Mackey Callaway was a great hire as PC.
The Angels need to add a #1 SP.
Rework the BP.
Either resign Simmons or another SS.
Adell looked really lost in the OF when he came up.
Trout was working with him and it showed. As far as his offense he was swinging at everything when he showed up
He was attacking the ball better at the plate as the season progressed.
Upton got off to a really bad start. Unfortunately with Pujols on the team he can’t DH.
Some of the young players really stepped up.
Canning,Walsh,Bundy and Ward. So in short, Let’s see what the Angels add to Pitching staff for 2021.
Following a year without minor league ball it’s going to be interesting to see how the depth signings play out.
That 1AB he had this past season ruined his whole production line for the season. He could of had 0’s all the way through.. I’m hoping our new GM isn’t having that mind set what was good for the Braves when he was there can work in Anaheim.
Can he pitch?
Most national sites, MLBTR included have glossed over the Angels actually depth chart and keep stating that Trout, Upton and Adell are the starting three outfielders and that simply isn’t the case.
Adell never really got the developmental time he needed in AAA and it showed last season. In fact by the end of the season, he was sitting the bench while Upton rediscovered his swing Taylor Ward opened some eyes in RF.
Jo Adell will be in AAA along with Brandon Marsh, developing and fixing the parts on his game that need to be fixed before moving back up.
More than likely, Scott Schebler will be operating as a potential 4th OF or platoon partner for Taylor Ward in RF.
I like this signing plus he is a left handed bat to balance out the line up. I agree that both Adell and Marsh need at least half a year at AAA to refine their games given the lack of development in 2020. I think Scheb may turn into a steal.
Exactly. The Angels lack a true fourth outfielder and between Adell being green and Upton declining that depth is truly needed.
I’d still consider signing Robbie Grossman to an MLB deal too. Should come cheap and can play either corner. Then we’d actually have depth while Adell gets AAA time.
Schebler is the definition of a streaky player. One week he is hitting like Trout. Next week he is swimming with them on a 0 for20 plus streak. Good depth piece that can play all 3 OF positions although CF should be with caution.
With Upton and Adell on the team, anything is an improvement defensively.
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Schebler is a California boy, needed the change of scenery, LA might bring him back, he looked good in Cincy for 1-2 yrs before injuries, he has power potential he had 20-30 long ball one season
I wish him best of luck. When healthy he was a very useful player with above average defense, speed and power.
No worries Angels’ fans. You’ll have Carlos Carrasco in your rotation and Tyler Naquin as your 4th OF/RF. All for Marsh, Detmers, and a lower level prospect.