8:15pm: The Angels announced the selection of MacKinnon and corresponding moves. A spot on the active roster was created by right-hander Austin Warren being placed on the 15-day IL with a right triceps strain. To create room on the 40-man roster, Anthony Rendon was transferred to the 60-day injured list. It was reported yesterday that Rendon is set to having season-ending surgery on his wrist, making this transaction an inevitable formality.
7:25pm: Angels manager Phil Nevin tells Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com that the club will select the contract of first baseman David MacKinnon for the second game of today’s doubleheader. He is not currently on the 40-man roster, meaning a corresponding move will be required.
MacKinnon, 27, was a 32nd round draft pick of the Angels in 2017. He’s never been a highly-touted prospect, having never appeared on the Angels’ prospect lists at either Baseball America or FanGraphs. That’s perhaps due to his age, as he was already 22 by the time he was drafted and 23 by the time he first played a professional game. He also doesn’t offer much on the defensive side of things, as he’s only capable of playing first base. (He did play one game at second base in Double-A last year.)
Nevertheless, he’s earned his way up to the majors due to his skills with the bat. In 334 games over his minor league career, he has a batting line of .294/.413/.462. This year, in Triple-A Salt Lake, he’s walking at an incredible 14.2% rate while striking out just 18.8% of the time. He’s also hit 13 home runs and is slashing .327/.423/.633 for a wRC+ of 156. Based on that tremendous output, the Angels will give him the call to make his MLB debut and see if he can translate any of that to the show.
The Angels have Jared Walsh at first base and Shohei Ohtani as the designated hitter most nights, but both of them are left-handed hitters. Since MacKinnon hits from the right side, he could potentially give either of them a day off when facing a difficult lefty pitcher, in addition to likely taking some pinch-hitting opportunities.
Please DFA Matt Duffy
Your 4 hitter?
Duffy the king of the seeing eye single. Yes by he can be DFA. 3 doubles this season, the rest are singles. He doesn’t even have warning track power. Hell he barely has hitting over the infielders head power.
Still hitting close to 300 , he’s fine in the lineup but should be a 9 guy to get on for the top. There is about 6 guys I’d cut before him
If Duffy gets on base he’s doing his job. He is way better than Rengifo, Mayfield, et al.
I like Duffy. Why would you DFA a guy who hits and is positionally versatile in the field? The guy who should DFA’d is Rendon. Cut your losses now.
Yeah Duffy’s 313 slugging percentage is really helping the Angels. I know his 5 errors is same amount of his RBI’s this season.
First, Velazquez.
My favorite player when he was on the Inland Empire 66ers. Looks like he’s improved since then.
DFA Suzuki and Lagares, bring back Wallach and Adell. When Stefanic returns from injury bring him up and get rid of Wade.
Why stop there just dfa everybody
If the Angels need a 3b the Mets can send them Escobar or JD Davis for Aaron Loup
DFA- Moreno.
He’s no Nathan McKinnon. Or even Kate McKinnon, actually.
He’s no Hillary
Did anyone see McKinnon in the game yesterday? He looks just Syndergaard. They look like they could be brothers.
Vasgergian called them “Thor and Thor light.” Hilarious take.