The Angels announced they’re designated reliever Austin Warren for assignment. The move creates a spot on the 40-man roster for outfielder Brett Phillips, who has officially signed his one-year free agent contract.
Warren, 27 next month, first secured a spot on the 40-man in July 2021. The righty has worked as a depth reliever in the year and a half since then. He pitched 16 times as a rookie, posting a 1.77 ERA with quality peripherals through his first 20 1/3 MLB innings. He earned some higher-leverage work down the stretch but didn’t manage to build off that solid initial look in 2022.
The UNC-Wilmington product made 14 big league appearances last season. He allowed 10 runs in 16 innings this time around, striking out just 12.9% of opposing hitters. After inducing grounders on more than 53% of batted balls as a rookie, he saw that mark fall to a pedestrian 37.7% last season. As a result, Warren spent more time at Triple-A Salt Lake.
He tossed 34 frames over 27 outings of relief for the Bees. Warren posted a 2.12 ERA with a 54.3% ground-ball percentage over that stretch, faring much better than in his limited MLB work. He still didn’t miss many bats, though, striking out 20.7% of opponents against a lofty 11.7% walk percentage.
The Halos will now have a week to trade Warren or look to run him through waivers. He has two minor league option years remaining, so any team willing to devote him a spot on the 40-man roster could keep him in Triple-A for a couple seasons. Warren has never previously been waived and has less than three years of major league service, meaning the Halos would be able to keep him in the organization on an outright assignment if he goes unclaimed on waivers.
He’s worth being claimed by someone with a weaker pen. Such a strong 21 showing followed by exactly the opposite in 22. Still enough there to maybe turn it around if he can settle somewhere in the middle, he’s a young enough guy
Had a couple bad luck injuries last season including a broken nose while shagging balls during BP. Doesn’t miss many bats and he has a similar profile to Andrew Wantz making him a bit superfluous to LAA. Though I would have tried to sneak Jose Marte through waivers instead
*raises hand*
Looks like a nice young guy for the pen to me. He can’t be any worse than some of the Fahrenheit 451 crew from last season.
Pretty cool guy. I interviewed him a few years back.
If anyone is interested: https://www.halosheaven.com/2019/9/10/20857814/austin-warren-talks-with-hh
Not that I like giving the old site too many clicks, but we did talk about his playing with Adell and Jones as well.
NOOOOOOO
Was coming to post the same
Wonder who they’re gonna designate for Correa
Haha
This demonstrates exactly why bullpens are so hard to build. The smaller the sample size, the less accurate the data is. Relievers just do not throw enough innings for the data not to be very noisy. This leads to much variability from season to season.
You have to know what you are doing, the Angels don’t.
Dude is UNDEFEATED…
I would much rather keep Warren on the 40-man roster than Brett Phillips who won’t last with the team by end of the season.
I’d have to disagree, the Angels needed a 4th OF that can play CF, and I don’t think Adell or Moniak can play a solid CF.
That’s a very good point. They don’t have a player other than Trout who can play CF.
Halo11- I don’t have a problem with Phillips but I think at least Adell was moved from CF and Ward plays a solid CF.
Moniak can play CF. Unless Phillips good attitude and fun nature somehow help the team morale, I am a bit disappointed they would DFA Warren for him.
Moniak is a bad defender. All you have to do is watch him a couple of games to realize he doesn’t know how to read the ball.
Halo11- It could be he has not played as much LF. I think Adell was more comfortable in CF. Maybe Montiak as well. He is listed on the roster as CF. Montiak did make at least 3 great plays in left as an Angel so I think he has potential. I do think Phillips is the more reliable fielder.
Man Halo11, 90% of your posts are condescending and often complaining. Lighten up a bit dude.