The Angels announced that they have reinstated right-hander Archie Bradley from the 60-day injured list with fellow right-hander Mike Mayers being designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
Mayers, 30, was already designated for assignment by the Angels earlier this year, which resulted in him clearing waivers, accepting an outright assignment and later getting selected back onto the roster. In total, he’s thrown 50 2/3 innings in the majors but with a 5.68 ERA, 20.2% strikeout rate, 8.1% walk rate and 38% ground ball rate.
Those are disappointing results, especially considering how good he was in the previous two campaigns. Over 2020 and 2021, he logged 105 innings with a 3.34 ERA, 30.5% strikeout rate, 8% walk rate and 35.9% ground ball rate. But since he couldn’t carry that over into 2022, he’s now lost his roster spot for a second time. With the trade deadline long gone, the Angels will only have the choice of placing Mayers on outright waivers or release waivers. If he were to clear waivers, he would have the right to reject the assignment, both because of his previous outrights and having over three years of MLB service time. He did accept an assignment last time this happened, though the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees are the only Angels’ affiliate still playing and their season wraps up tomorrow.
As for Bradley, 30, he was a fairly effective reliever in the previous five seasons but had a frustrating campaign here in 2022. Signed to a one-year, $3.75MM deal in the offseason, he’s spent much of the year on the IL due to an abdominal strain and then an elbow fracture. In between those ailments, he was only able to throw 18 2/3 innings an put up a 4.82 ERA, his highest since he was a starter back in 2016. He was getting ground balls at a solid 57.1% rate but was subpar in the strikeout department, only whiffing 19.2% of batters faced. Now that he’s healthy again, he’ll look to get a few solid outings on the record before returning to the open market in a few weeks.
Prior to the official announcement, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register relayed that Mayers did not have a locker in the Angels’ clubhouse and that Bradley would be activated (Twitter links).
I loved him in the Halloween movies.
Especially when he occasionally has his masks removed
Yes, his performances are always terrifying.
Austin Powers is his best. followed by Shrek and Wayne..
Wonder if he’s destined to obscurity like his sidekick in school Garth Iorg
I forgot he was even still in the majors.
Well you can’t kill him and he keeps coming back.
This is why smart teams don’t pay much attention to ERAs, especially in limited sample sizes.
In 2020, Mayers had a 2.20 ERA, and in spite of being a heavy flyball pitcher, he only allowed 2 HRs. It was a fluke.
That cutter was great for a while then hitters adjusted and it wasn’t great anymore.
He was still allowing a lot of fly balls, they just didn’t leave the park.
That is almost always going to even out. There are a few pitchers that have the ability to keep fly balls in the park… except for that season, he was never one of them.
Just glad he’s hopefully no longer on the team.. watch he just accepts the assignment and stays in the minors and we’ll STILL have to deal with him again.
Also, Logan O’Hoppe added to the taxi squad
A good chance that works out as a great trade for both teams.
Working with hitting coach Kevin Long, Brandon Marsh has his BA around .300 with the Phillies.
O’Hoppe wasn’t going to get many reps with Realmuto and Stubbs ahead of him.
Just in time to make a cameo in Halloween Ends.
Evil ends tonight!
Mayers almost gave up as many homeruns as Judge hit.
THANK F’N GAWWWWWWWWWWWWD!!!!!!!!!!!!! This guy pitched like a 30 year old broken down water heater. You never what you were going to get.
Long overdue.
FINALLY, please be the last stint.
Mike Mayers is considering a return to SNL.
YEAH, BABY !!