The Angels announced a series of roster moves in advance of this evening’s game against the Rays. Star third baseman Anthony Rendon is headed back to the 10-day injured list with a left knee contusion. Reliever Mike Mayers has been reinstated from the COVID IL, while fellow right-hander Ben Rowen was designated for assignment. Outfielders Juan Lagares and Taylor Ward have been recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake, while righty James Hoyt was optioned.
This will be Rendon’s second trip to the IL this season. The 30-year-old missed about two weeks in April due to a left groin strain. After returning for seven games, Rendon is knocked out of action again, this time by a balky knee. On the plus side, the team says an MRI today revealed no issues (via Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times), so it seems there’s reason to hope Rendon can return in relatively short order.
While the pair of injuries has made for a frustrating start to the season for Rendon, he’s again been very productive when healthy. Over his first 66 plate appearances, the two-time Silver Slugger award winner has hit .276/.348/.466 with three homers. That’s not quite the star-level offense he put up from 2017-20, but it’s still well above average. During Rendon’s last IL stint, Los Angeles leaned mostly on José Rojas and Jack Mayfield at the hot corner. The latter has since been lost on waivers to the Mariners, but Rojas looks primed for another shot after struggling the first time.
Ward also has some experience at third base, although he worked exclusively in the outfield last season. The former catcher hit .214/.283/.351 from 2019-20. He’s now in line for his first MLB work this year. Infielder Phil Gosselin was also selected to the MLB roster this week and could be an option. Lagares, who can play anywhere in the outfield, is back after going hitless in seven plate appearances early in the season.
The Angels also shuffled up the bullpen. Mayers went on the COVID IL Monday but was always expected back quickly. His return will bump Rowen from the 40-man roster. The latter, who returned to the majors this season for the first time since 2016, pitched in eight games for the Halos. Over 11 1/3 innings, he was tagged for eight runs (seven earned) on 12 hits. He struck out only eight and issued a pair of walks.
Rendon hasnt seemed happy since spring training. Because of Ohtani and Trout he has gone from being the man on the Nats to a forgotten 3rd star. His performance has been poor. Now the Angels injury curse has gotten ahold of him. I hope he doesnt become Pujols v2.
remember he signed with the angels because it was a good place for players not seeking attention and fame.
I believe that would be the A’s not the Angles.
Angels
he called trout and asked about it during his free agency. here in oc nobody really cares what your neighbor are or what they do unless their kids are in the same apaas classes. those parents are crazy.
This is a weird take. You really think Rendon is jealous of Trout and Ohtani? I think he’s just starting to decline a bit with old age.
Didnt say he was willfully jealous. But maybe not being the man is hard for him to accept. Ive watched most of his games this season and he isnt confident nor aggressive like he was last season. His stats bear this out.
Guy, you’re absolutely weird. As said above, this is a completely weird and a big reach. You’d been better off saying he’s lost his passion because he signed a big contract and that is the way more likely scenario.
Could be that too.
You think Rendon didn’t know Trout was on the angels when he signed?
He doesn’t feel happy because he’s #3 behind Trout and Ohtani? Welcome to the rest of the entire league.
On this team, he’s much less popular than Fletcher.
Rendon doesn’t show much emotion anyway. He’s a silent assassin.
Bart,
Scherzer, Strasberg and Soto were pretty good on the Nats World Series winner. Turner, Robles and Kendrick weren’t too shabby.
Dude, why make posts like this it only makes you look ignorant.
Point to one occasion in Rendon’s career where he has appeared as the disgruntled attention seeking player?
This is a Rendon that has more than happily spent a career overlooked as players like Bryce Harper, Strasburg, Scherzer etc have garnered the media attention.
He CHOSE to go to the Angels with Trout and Ohtani and Pujols already entrenched there.
Rendon is going to be fine and become an all-star caliber 3rd baseman for the next 3+ seasons. People need to relax. He’s just caught a little bout of the injury bug but it’s nothing major that will impact his offensive or defensive production.
He’s insanely important because the Angels don’t have a 3rd baseman. At least twice the Angels have lost a game because the replacements couldn’t field. Once would have been the last out of the game.
The Angels have no depth.
Nats fan here. Rendon has a history of slow starts. Had one in 2020, one of the best hitters i’ve witnessed he’s okay
@luc exactly, Rendon is one of the best pure hitters I’ve gotten to watch. He’ll be fine. Hope I can say the same for Freddie Freeman too!
I’ve always said that Rendon has about the best swing in BB. That said, Rendon is almost 31 years old. The Angels continue to think that hitters will continue to be successful It didn’t happen with Wells, it didn’t happen with Pujols, it didn’t happen with Upton, it probably won’t happen with Rendon.
And sadly, Trout’s peripherals hint at it starting to happen to him as well.
Sad to see Rendon on the IL but seems necessary to have the bench and options open. It shouldn’t take too long to get him back. And I feel Ward should have been up a while ago. He has options and he and Lagares should be better than Shebler and others who seem unable to be consistent. Good moves today. The Halos luck should turn around. Especially pitching…some tough luck lately. How can you lead the league in strike outs but struggle so much? Like always…pitching will be the fate this season
And right there we have a play we’re Rojas takes far too long to get the ball to second on a double play ball.
He can’t play 3rd. Hopefully it only causes Ohtani pitches.
The lineup tonight looks like a spring training lineup
Wouldn’t be much better if the double-edged albatross of Upton and Pujols weren’t resting. They have an excellent first part of the lineup when Rendon is healthy, but it drops off in a hurry.
Or a AAA lineup save Trout and Fletcher. And that moron Madden cost the Angels in the third when he had Ward bunt with runners on 1st and 2nd and Trout on deck. Wards sacrifice was successful. The Rays then IW Trout. Madden took the effing bat out of Trouts hand. Im not sure what Madden is thinking.
So far this year Fletcher is a AAA player.
Agreed. The Angels should have kept LaStella.
Bart
that moron Madden cost the Angels in the third when he had Ward bunt with runners on 1st and 2nd and Trout on deck.
========================================================
I use to like Maddon when he was with the Rays, but I’ve come to believe that he is a bad manager. never, ever, sacrifice to put weaker hitters at the plate. Walsh is a good hitter, but the two guys up after him are Iglesias and Gosselin.
These moves are expected because of injuries. They need to shake up the pitching staff before this season passes us by…again.
Or get a pitching coach who can actually coach.
The defense has need awful. When the bullpen comes in with men on base, they score,
Halo – We have solid defenders around the horn who have played poorly. That will get better. Our pitching stinks with few exceptions. That won’t get better with the staff we have.
Prov, I can’t disagree with the infield defense. With Walsh at first, we have gold glove finalist at every infield position, but they are playing horribly. This greatly affects the pitching. The only RP who who helps the starters ERA has been Rodriguez. Other than Quintana, I’m not worried about the starters, they are adequate. The bullpen is not. The depth is not.
Well, Perry addressed this team’s bullpen issues so that’s good.
Has a single move Perry made this off-season worked out?
No. If Marsh is healthy and playing well bring him up in a couple of weeks. Put Rodriguez in the starting rotation and bring up Detmers and put him in the rotation. Quintana and Canning to the bullpen. The Angels have had a tough opening schedule but they need to have a strong may.
Albert Pujols 2.0 is hurt again!?
yeah but Rojas played well last night.
He took far too long to start a DP. The bunt play was a nice play but a major league third baseman makes that play.
Dude, why make posts like this it only makes you look ignorant.
Point to one occasion in Rendon’s career where he has appeared as the disgruntled attention seeking player?
This is a Rendon that has more than happily spent a career overlooked as players like Bryce Harper, Strasburg, Scherzer etc have garnered the media attention.
He CHOSE to go to the Angels with Trout and Ohtani and Pujols already entrenched there.
You scolded me.
Man the bullpen and José Quintana are killing our Angels. Stop sending on bats and invest in arms. Why is that such a difficult theory to understand?
That has been, and continues to be, the million dollar question.
I never get upset when the Angels don’t chase starting pitchers on the free agent market. It’s a high risk gamble with a low success rate. What I do mind is the waiver wire bullpen that stinks every year. Making the pen a priority is a low risk gamble that’s necessary to win.
When Rendon was a Nat, it was my perception that he could be a little slow to recover from injuries. I have no stats to back this up, it was just a perception. Some people recover faster than others and injuries also vary widely.
Anyway, I wish him a speedy recovery. I still try to catch his at-bats late at night East Coast time when I can.