The Angels announced Thursday that they’ve acquired infielder Jack Mayfield from the Braves in exchange for cash. Fellow infielder Robel Garcia was designated for assignment to open a 40-man roster spot. Atlanta designated Mayfield for assignment yesterday.
Mayfield, 30, is something of a familiar face for the Angels, as his lone big league experience has come over the past couple seasons with the division-rival Astros. He landed with Atlanta earlier in the offseason after being designated for assignment in Houston. New Angels general manager Perry Minasian previously worked with the Braves as an assistant GM under Alex Anthopoulos, so it seems likely that both Anthopoulos and Minasian were fans of Mayfield’s versatility and glovework during their time together in Atlanta.
The Astros gave Mayfield 112 Major League plate appearances across the past two seasons, but the resulting .170/.198/.283 batting line was obviously rather underwhelming. It’s a tiny sample of work, however, and Mayfield’s career .268/.325/.472 slash in parts of four Triple-A seasons (1224 plate appearances) creates some more reason for optimism.
With the Astros, Mayfield served as a right-handed-hitting backup at second base, shortstop and third base, grading well defensively at each position. He also still has minor league options remaining, making him a possible Triple-A stash for an Angels club that looks quite strong defensively with Anthony Rendon, Jose Iglesias and David Fletcher lined up around the infield.
Garcia, 27, has gone from the Cubs to the Reds to the Mets to the Angels on waivers since last summer. He’s an interesting story, having washed out of affiliated ball for about four years before resurfacing with a pro club in Italy back in 2019. He caught the Cubs’ attention while playing in Europe and, after signing a minor league deal with Chicago, skyrocketed through their system while showing light-tower power but a huge susceptibility to strikeouts.
In 98 minor league games with the Cubs in ’19, Garcia posted a monstrous .284/.369/.586 slash with 27 home runs in 388 plate appearances. The power was clear to see, and it earned him a ticket to the big leagues just months after he’d been playing in Italy. The Cubs gave him 80 plate appearances at the MLB level, and he punched out in 35 of them, highlighting his contact issues. However, while Garcia only hit .208 with a .275 on-base percentage, he also slugged .500 on the strength of five homers, two doubles and two triples in that brief 80-plate appearance cup of coffee.
The fact that he’s been passed around the league this much already shows that many clubs are intrigued by the power but wary enough of the strikeouts that they can’t commit to a lasting 40-man spot. He does have minor league options remaining, so it’s possible he’ll land with yet another club after his latest DFA. The Angels have a week to trade him or try to pass him through outright waivers.
Angels in the Mayfield
The Angels know jack about Curtis Mayfield, at least the music in the clubhouse will improve..
It doesn’t appear Mayfield has pitched in MLB but I bet he’d try if asked. Angels should go after Odorizzi.
Finally, some starting pitching!!!
I dont see why Mayfield is so popular on waivers. seems like a dime in a dozen player.
In less than 200 innings at SS he has 5 DRS. That’s elite defense level pace. Not a bad thing to have in the last infielder on the 40 man.
So if you knew his spot in the lineup was unlikely to come up again, you could sub him in at 2B and have Fletcher relieve Fowler, sure.
I was just thinking that too. Nice glove, but completely useless with a bat in his hand. As a Cubs fan, I saw Garcia play a little in 2019, and the kid has some pop (and also a terrible OBP and walk rate) Slugged .500 in 80 ABs with 9 extra base hits though (5 HRs…and I remember one was an absolute bomb). Meanwhile, Mayfield has 8 career extra base hits (100+ ABS) but a career OPS under .500. I guess it depends on what you need, bat or glove. Garcia > Mayfield
Edit….4 of the 5 home runs were bombs. One splash down in SF, and one to dead center in Pitt. Thank you to Youtube for having a little 3 minute, 5 HR vid of Garcia.
Garcia is easy to root for. The glove is okay-ish; if he could ever put the ball in play more consistently he could be a very useful player. And he is the only major leaguer every named “Robel.”
How about finish?
The word “dick-ish” comes to mind.
Your comment is not only insulting but contributes nothing to the conversation. Congratulations.
So much for my prediction of Robel being the next Tommy LaStella for the Angels.
bet on Mayfield for that now
Robel Italia!!!! Robel the Bobel. Gioca a baseball e fatti pagare in pizza!!!!
Depth is never a bad idea. Now more pitching.
Jack Mayfield is keeping the spirit of Mario Mendoza alive.
Didn’t Beaver and Wally live in Mayfield???
Yes, I’m old….
Leave It to Beaver is set in the fictitious community of Mayfield and its environs.
Beaver and Wally were FICTITCIOUS?????!!!!!
No. Wally grew up to be Alice Cooper, Beaver overdosed on heroin and Eddie Haskell was an Army officer in Vietnam and was killed by his own troops.
June Cleaver is a jive interpreter and Ward Cleaver is the hedge-fund guy who shorted Gamestop.
I have never seen the show and I also had to look up recent references to the Bob Newhart show because I’m out of the loop. However, I knew these weren’t true but I really wanted them to be true. Especially the Eddie Haskell part.
I thank you for imagery, but I curse you for making me want to believe in something.
Oh sure. Just neglect that Miss Landers became Secretary of Education in the previous administration, and Larry Mondello was the Attorney General.
(Loved the “Airplane” reference, tho.)
Mayfield was next door to Mayberry.. June always sent beaver to get trim by Floyd in Mayberry..
Ah yes, I remember the episode where June insisted that Ward had to “spank the beaver”. Unknown whether that was with a small or capital “b”.
Over in Mayberry, Floyd was much too busy at Gomer’s Garage getting a lube job.
I’ll shut the door on my way out.
I’ll take the cash, thank you … lol
Robel has been getting around lately
Artie 99 cent Moreno once again grabbing a scrub for cheap.
stupid uninformed take
At least he knows how to type a complete sentence.
so does he have to have a 5 day quarantine going from Florida to AZ?
Think AZ is only for international travel
Wonder if we net a profit off him? Claimed him off waivers, then flipped him for cash? Is that how that works…
I think it costs about $50K to claim somebody off waivers, and cash considerations usually ranges anywhere from $1 to $50K (I know Yankees paid the Indians $25K to get Maybin back in 2019)
Yeah, 10-20k is pretty standard. Teams aren’t looking to profit off waiver claims, and if a team feels like they can give a player an opportunity, there’s an unspoken rule that many front offices will follow that brings about trades of this nature. It’s good for a player’s career.
“Cash considerations” usually means the waiver fee. It’s a way for a team to move to the top of the waiver list.
type of cost effective player pirates are always interested in
Roger Lodge will make Mayfield pickup sound like Lindor; just tune in and listen LoL
Meanwhile another wasted season for Mike Trout; greatest player in the game.
Can we say Starting Pitching? Even tier level 2 and 3 FA.
Let the season play out.
Hopefully nobody claims Robel Garcia lol. Mayfield and Garcia would be good Triple A depth at Salt Lake in case of injuries.
Okay, I’ll say it.
But can he pitch?
More importantly, how many bangs on a trash can represent a slider?
This move doesn’t make much sense. Both players play multiple positions. Some claim Mayfield is an elite defender but Robel Garcia’s MiLB defensive numbers are actually better than Jack Mayfield’s. Neither steal bases and neither hit for high average. Garcia is a switch hitter while Mayfield bats right.
Mayfield has options, Garcia does not. I think that’s the key to this transaction.