5:50pm: The Angels have now announced the move, making it official.
5:30pm: The Angels and outfielder Brett Phillips are in agreement on a one-year major league deal that will see him make $1.2MM. Phillips is a client of O’Connell Sports Management.
Phillips, 29 in May, has seen big league action in each of the past six seasons, spending time with the Brewers, Royals, Rays and Orioles. Though he’s never really been a huge threat at the plate, he’s provided value to those clubs with his defense and speed. His best season to date was 2021 with the Rays, where he hit 13 home runs and stole 14 bases. He struck out in a massive 38.7% of his plate appearances but also walked in 11.3% of them. He finished the year with a batting line of .206/.300/.427 and a wRC+ of 103, indicating he was 3% better than league average at the plate. He also got excellent grades for his glovework and was considered to be worth 2.3 wins above replacement by FanGraphs.
Unfortunately, the flaws in his game were a bit more exposed in 2022. His strikeout rate, which was already incredibly high, ticked north to 41.8% while his walk rate dipped to 7.1%. His batting line last year was .144/.217/.249, leading to an untenable wRC+ of 38. That frustrating season including getting designated for assignment by the Rays in August, which led to a trade to the Orioles. They outrighted him off the roster in August, but Phillips reached free agency at season’s end.
Phillips certainly has some drawbacks but there are plenty of admirable attributes as well. Statcast places his sprint speed in the 88th percentile, his outfield jump in the 99th and his arm strength in the 97th. That speed might be more useful this year with the new rules that are designed to encourage more base stealing. The limits on defensive shifts might also give him a boost at the plate since he was shifted on 88% of his plate appearances last year.
The Angels will likely be looking to implement Phillips in a part-time role off the bench, coming in for pinch running and defensive substitutions. The primary outfield should consist of Mike Trout in center flanked by Hunter Renfroe and Taylor Ward in the corners with Shohei Ohtani serving as the designated hitter most nights. The club also has Mickey Moniak and Jo Adell as outfield options on its 40-man roster, but both of them have struggled at the major league level thus far and each has an option year remaining, allowing them to be sent to the minors as depth if they don’t earn their way into larger roles.
Phillips is the latest in a series of moves that the Angels have made to improve the support for their star players. Despite having Trout and Ohtani and other stars over the years, the club has failed to live up to expectations due to shortcomings elsewhere on the roster, especially when injuries have tested their depth. The club has signed Tyler Anderson to helped their rotation and Carlos Estévez to bolster the bullpen. On the position player side, they traded for Renfroe and Gio Urshela while signing Brandon Drury and now Phillips.
Phillips doesn’t have any options, meaning he’ll have to stick on the roster or else be designated for assignment. However, he has just over three years of MLB service time and can be retained for future seasons via arbitration if he has a solid campaign for the Halos. This deal brings their payroll to around $206MM, per the calculations of Roster Resource, and a competitive balance tax calculation of $221MM. That payroll figure would be a franchise record, per Cot’s Baseball Contracts, eclipsing the $189MM mark from last year. The CBT number puts them about $12MM shy of the lowest luxury tax threshold, which will be $233MM this year.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic first reported that Phillips and the Angels were in agreement. Jon Heyman of The New York Post first added the $1.2MM salary.
i wouldve been okay with moniak and adell on the bench but brett is a great add to let one or perhaps both of those guys find themselves with even less pressure in aaa.
I like Moniak better and Adell better personally.
Moniak is a terrible defensive player and unlike Adell has shown no defensive growth.
As far as this move… huh?
it doesnt make sense to improve the defensive floor and get younger guys consistent play time? i see the value in phillips for this year, and if the kids prove they are ready he can be cut
Brett Philips is ok-ish on defense but he can’t hit that well.
Halo11- Does Moniak have bad numbers on defense? He looked O.K. to me. Made some good plays. Maybe those good plays have throne me off. He made those plays at the end of the year. What is it that makes you say he has terrible defense with low growth potential?
He looked terrible to me. Every route was a banana route. As far as numbers, when the sample size is that small, I don’t know how valuable stats are. Outs above average he was -1 with the Angels. From June on, Adell was +1.
Adell is not ready for the big leagues. They have botched his development by rushing him to the majors way too early.
I think the angels need to get serious if they want to keep trout and shoei. Sign Trevor Bauer, trade rengifo +
to the brewers for their SS and bolster their pen.
All their doing is adding C+ players
Bauer hasn’t pitched in two years and is a toxic personality, something Moreno won’t go near.
Moreno will have $3B not to go near Bauer.
Why would the Brewes want Rengifo, let alone for Adames. These types of suggestions are always humorous because its always so one-sided
As for signing Bauer, that would be interesting
I know Brett personally, and he’s been putting in some serious work this off-season on his swing. With his defense being at a high level, the absence of the shift, and different modifications he’s made with his swing, the Angels don’t have much to lose and potentially a lot to gain. He was a top prospect when he played daily in the minors, but hasn’t had a chance to play every day in the majors. We’ll see what he can do. Rooting for you Brett! Let’s go Halos.
I didn’t suggest rengifo straight up. I suggested rengifo plus for Adam’s.
You guys need to wake up and smell the roses. Currently the angels are, maybe, the third best team in the AL West. Neither Adell, Moniak or Phillips move the needle. Bauer will win 10+ games for someone. It might as well be the angels.
acb;
1. His name is Adames, and since you don’t know it – he’s one of the 3 leaders of the Brewers team. They aren’t trading him because some fan thinks his statistics will work for another team.
2. MLB is not rotisserie league. Teams have impact players and others. In the Angels case the GM has remade the team over the past 3 years into one that stresses defense and pitching. Individual statistics on defense are terrible, and never remotely reflect the value of players and teams that play good defense as to the teams winning games, nor do they remotely reflect a team that plays bad defense impacts teams losing (see White Sox, Chicago).
Like the Cubs have done, the Angels have transformed their team. Good defense and pitching means a team doesn’t need to score that many runs to win. Those “C+” players they’ve added are more valuable than that, and will support others on the team. Watch the posts this coming season from Mariner fans talking about how their defense and baserunning is costing them games they should have won.
Rengifo + Some Other Players for Adames isn’t any less ridiculous a trade proposal. The Brewers would either laugh and hang up right after hearing Rengifo’s name, or they’d be morbidly curious to hear what less-notable-than-Rengifo players the Angels added to entice the Brewers to part with their great, young, under-control-for-3-more-years, SS. The Brewers There is literally zero upside or reason for the Brewers to do this.
Phillips is signed as a 4th/5th outfielder/Pinch Runner for 1.2 million dollars (o.6% of their current payroll). It’s a depth signing. Treating it as anything more is hyperbole.
Adames only has 2 years of control. Like Burnes and Woodruff.
If things don’t go well early on—call them in July and see if things change. They aren’t a team to let their guys go out the door for nothing. Their first half play is as important for any teams immediate direction in all of baseball.
He’s had chances and he strikes out a ton what r u talking about he was awful for the rays
No way Brewers are trading Adames tot he Angels.
I feel like the Angels got pretty serious about keeping Trout when they signed him through 2031 for $426 million. So all they have to do now is sign famously positive clubhouse presence Trevor Bauer, trade sub-par players the Brewers don’t want for a much better player that the Brewers have no reason to trade, and add some relievers…
Bauer? I predict his playing days are done, at least in the US. No team would or should give him a spot. That’s a lot of baggage.
As an Angel fan I say F that scumbag Bauer
Bauer’s real misstep was not what was obvious, but rather with the wives and girlfriends of the players. They rightfully wonder if his behavior is standard practice among players – particularly when they’re on the road.
I don’t think the happily settled players want him on their team.
Life is like that. Sometimes the things a person does may be his/her business and right, but it winds up ruining the relationships of other people around them….even indirectly.
I would welcome a Bauer signing. I would be in the minority though.
He hasn’t been charged with anything. I have seen players actually charged with things receive better treatment from MLB.
The judge continuously ruled in favor of Bauer over his accuser. The neutral arbitrator also ruled in favor of Bauer over MLB. In the court of public opinion he is guilty, but those most familiar with the actual evidence, rule in favor of Bauer.
“The judge continuously ruled in favor of Bauer over his accuser”
What judge? The LA District Attorney declined to file charges against Bauer, as he felt there was not enough evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This judge and these rulings you refer to are pure fiction.
“The neutral arbitrator also ruled in favor of Bauer over MLB.”
(From https://www.mlb.com/news/trevor-bauer-reinstated-after-suspension)
““Today, the neutral arbitrator selected by MLB and the MLBPA affirmed that Trevor Bauer violated Major League Baseball’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.
“After an exhaustive review of the available evidence the neutral arbitrator upheld an unpaid suspension of 194 games.”
The arbitrator did not rule in favor of Bauer over the MLB. He reduced the length of the suspension while affirming Bauer’s violation of the policy. Those unpaid games remain unpaid.
@Ontahri I am referring to an actual judge. There have been suits and counter suits filed. Just google “judge rules against Baue accuser” There is an article in the LA Times. There were other instances where the restraining orders were dissolved by the judge. These are ruling made by judges.
The suspension was 324 games and was reduced to time he has already missed, which is time he is not going to get back regardless.
Well, what will be your reaction when Bauer signs with the Astros and he wins 10+ games ? FYI… Dodger players were split on bringing Bauer back.
The brewers aren’t trading Adames
Moniak and Adell are both more likely to be trade with this signing. I hope the Angels sign Bauer, sign Chafin and then use their surplus to package somewhere for a shortstop.
So which of those OFs need a PR? I doubt Trout will take kindly to being removed for a pinch runner or for defense unless its a blow out. Renfroe already has a great arm. Adell might need a defensive replacement, but better to use the other half of a platoon than waste a spot solely for a defensive player who can’t hit. I like the guy, but he just doesn’t seem to be a good fit.
Adell is ticketed for AAA. Taylor Ward would probably be “the guy” removed late in games for a PR/defensive replacement
Have you seen videos of Adell’s workouts at Driveline this offseason.
Rsox- Ward is solid defensively with a cannon and can steal bases too. I think the weakest in the outfield would be Renfroe or if Moniak or Adell are playing. I could see Ward or Trout most likely though, as a way to keep them fresh.
baseballislife – What about Adell’s workouts?
Phillips isn’t limited to pinch-running for outfielders, but to your question Renfroe is a great example of someone he’d PR for. If Renfroe gets on base in innings 7/8/9, Phillips’ is a much faster/better baserunner and his skill on defense means the Angels aren’t sacrificing anything on defense by pulling Renfroe.
Can’t keep Adell on the bench. Only way he gets better is with regular MLB playing time, something the Angels, barring injury, are not going to give him.
Adell does need regular ABs, so he needs to start in AAA. He has all the talent in the world, speed, arm, and raw power, but none of it means anything if you can’t make contact. He has the work ethic as well. I read reports on how hard he works. I also read he revamped his swing this off season, which could be a good thing. At this point, he has little trade value, so hopefully he can show some signs of improvement at not fall back to bad habits.
Reasons for this move = Speed and personality.
Yep, clubhouse chemistry and playoff experience definitely apart of this signing.
Ohtani and Phillips pitching in the same game would be unreal to see.
Great pickup. Excellent outfielder and very good in centerfield. Left-handed bat off the bench with playoff and world series experience. He can also pitch in blowout games. Anthony Rendon hit a home run against him hitting left handed
Great personality! Family is friends with Terry Smith. I love this pick up! Ohtani will love him. A great reason to stay with the Angels instead of exploring free agency.
You honestly think that the presence of Brett Phillips on the roster would be a major motive for Ohtani not to explore free agency, or am I missing intended sarcasm?
Probably a wishful dream that Ohtani has so much fun here he won’t want to try out free agency.
I’m pretty sure winning is the most fun thing in baseball. If you can win and also have fun in the clubhouse, great.
Phillips will add to the fun part. Not so much the winning.
My thoughts exactly.
Definitely a plus defender and very capable 4th or 5th OF. Just needs to work on his offensive production. Angels could have done worse.
Good guy. Can do everything on the baseball field except hit. No one’s perfect.
And has the best “airplane” of any major leaguer.
Angels picked up the life of the party. Seems like a real good dude too.
Halo’s getting ready to lose Othani next year…..!
Where’s Trumbo Jumbo……… In the words of the immortal Pink Floyd:
“Hello, is there anybody out there….”
Great question, Yankee Clipper. I have not read him in awhile now. Hope Trumbo Jumbo is OK.
Hey Clipper! I think TrumboJumbo changed his name. I forget what the new one is but it incorporates “trumbojumbo”.
Thanks Prov! Hope you had a great Christmas, friend.
So what happened to their GM saying we’re not done. Need help at SS and pitching. I assume the perspective buyers want to keep payroll down. Goodbye shoei
signing Phillips = goodbye Ohtani? lol
I would have greatly preferred to snag Ramiel Tapia after Toronto cut him loose.
Also a burner, also hits lefty, also covers all three OF spots but hits at close to MLB average (90ish OPS and wRC+).
Or a Marte, any Marte…
The thing is, typically a team wants the reserve OF’s to play good defense (ie. defensive sub for late in game) and/or be subbed in for a baserunner late in game. Brett Phillips checks both boxes. Tapia maybe checks one.
Tapia’s defense, while not exactly awful is atleast a little below average and certainly far worse then Phillips. He also has moderate baserunning value but Phillips has a better stolen base %.
Depends on whether you value defense. Tapia is only playable in LF. Too bad at jumps and routes to be good in CF and too weak an arm for RF.
Just yesterday:
TheGreatBaseballMind
January 8, 2023
I like Almora for the Tigers in a weak side outfield platoon role and Phillips as the back up outfielder for the Angels.
Look like the current GM wanted to stay with the owner of LAA.
Late inning defensive replacement and pinch runner. Occasional start to give someone a day off. This is a great signing. He is awesome!! Put in the same hitting group as trout and see what happens. haha
Looks to me like we’re paying $1.2 million to a cool guy who will have a limited role so Adell and Moniak can play every day in AAA.
That’s probably a decent amount of Phillips value is getting those two consistent playing time to hopefully develop.
Anal-ytics is garbage when they give Phillips any value at all. This guy struck out in 47% of his ABs during 2022. Lol And the Angels reward him with a guaranteed $1.2 million deal? MLB is officially a AAA league.
I’m assuming every single comment above is BS, right? He’s a career .188 hitter with a career strikeout rate of 38%. There have to be very hitters that are WORSE than this guy.
Oh, but he plays great defense. Cool. Go Halo’s. Straight to he basement as usual.
The Angels have not finished in the basement since 1999,so your “as usual” statement is just wrong.
My bad. You’re right. They’re very slightly not as horrible as I thought. I’m sure Brett will put them over the top though.
Austin Warren was DFA’d.
Phillips has one more big hit in the World Series than any of us do, so there’s that.
I feel like Moniak to Phillips is a wash but injuries tend to plague the Angels OF (or just the Angels in general) so the depth can’t hurt
Looks like Moniak and Adell are heading to AAA. Moniak would probably be really good if not for the injuries.
Trade is coming. Wish the best to adell but this just points to him getting the boot for a SP
Brett Phillips & Disney. A perfect match.
Brett brings a lot to a team. Everything but hit, of course. He plays great D in all 3 outfield spots, terrific arm, decent power, good speed, great teammate, and awesome with fans and the community. After last season, this Angels team needs an ultra-positive/energetic/fun guy like Brett Phillips.
Maybe Moniak will get some reps at 1B while Walsh is recovering. It would help his value and create more possibilities for the team and Moniak.
Moniak is the Anthony Davis of MLB
My daughter is Chloe Grimes if you search on google or youtube for Chloe and Brett Phillips you’ll see an amazing story. We’ve become quite close with Brett over the last year. Angels fans are gonna love Brett. He’s currently revamping his entire swing. It started at the end of the AAA season when he was with Norfolk. Look up his stats for the last 2 weeks of the season and youll see some serious production and improvement. He has top notch defense and a cannon for an arm. If the bat comes around Brett is gonna play for many more years. We love him and wish him the best of luck!
Chloe and Brett’s interaction was one of my favorite moments in MLB 2022! Beautiful and inspiring! Hope Chloe is doing well!!!
Thank you! Chloe is doing great. She’s getting tests done every other month and since the last surgery, so far so good. She’s enjoying her Stan Musial award for sportsmanship. The award show aired on CBS Christmas Eve. Unbelievable show this year. All the honorees were amazing!
Great to hear! Tell Chloe that every baseball fan is pulling for her!!!
How did the Wade move work out last year? This is not how I like using The 40 man roster. Moves like this haven’t worked out for a very long time.
They got him to pinch hit and because he is a top notch defensive replacement. On top of that he brings energy. This is a great pick up. Daddy chill
Halo11- I think this could be coverage for a potential trade involving Adell or Moniak.
The last thing we need is another depth piece who can’t hit. He is a .188 career hitter with a career OBP of .273. That’s useless.
How can an article on Brett Phillips not mention what he does for a clubhouse or how much a fan base may love him?
It’s baseball. Intangibles are often ignored in favor of make-believe (i.e. subjective) statistics.
Phillips makes Brandon Fahey look like Jose Canseco.
You guys don’t know Ohtani like I do. He loves entertaining players in the dugout, like Andrew Velasquez and Jose Iglesias. He can become too serious at times and complimentary “clubhouse jokers” helps Ohtani with the stress he brings upon himself.
He is know in Japan for making funny comic videos and he even does occasional stand up gigs while doing promotional tours in Japan.
He made a personal request to Perry Miniasian and Phil Nevin that on the days he starts he wants Andrew Velazquez to be the starting SS.
If I was a starting pitcher on the Angels, you better be damn sure Squid is starting at SS and he better bring his A-Game in the comedy department when the Angels are up to bat.
If Lourdez Gurriel and Teoscar Hernandez were still in Toronto, I guarantee you that’s the team Shohei would want sign with when he becomes a free agent.
I know Shohei loves the big Clock Necklace “bling” they wear in San Diego.
The Angels’cowboy hat celebration after home runs last season had convinced Shohei that he needs to work on adapting a cowboy accent similar to John Wayne, the same name given to the Airport in Orange
Andrew Velazquez may no longer be the worst hitter on the Angels’ 40-man.
So hitting .203 is three percent better than league average. Hitters really suck
No, .244 was 2021’s average batting average. Phillips total offensive performance in 2021, which as you’d imagine encompasses a lot more than batting average, was 3% better than average.
Angels finally get the LH platoon player to alternate w Trout!
Ehhhhhhhhhhhh okay Troutahni whatever
Maybe he can be Rendon’s BP pitcher during next season’s home run derby. Bigger question could Rendon stay healthy.
DFA’d by June
Like Rickey Henderson said, “the thing about stealing bags is you have to get on base to do it.”
I wonder if there is an Adell trade in the works.
Provo356- I was thinking the same thing. At least it looks like they might be moving Adell or Moniak potentially,
Yep. I’d like to see Adell be moved for some bullpen help. Keep Moniak as depth.
Brett Phillips is a blast to watch, not an angels fan, what happened to jo adell
Yikes 41% strikeout rate and no mendoza avg even. His defense must be as good as his laugh. With injuries he might play more than defense. Good clubhouse add I suppose. Dodgers added Bradley Zimmer on a minor league. Similar player?
Would have preferred Halos spent the $8.5M (which includes $2.5M is buyout of the $10.5M option for a second year) that the Marlins signed Johnny Cueto). Can’t help believing that Cueto would have brought much more value to the Angels than will Phillips. Added bonus would be if Cueto performs as or better than expected in ’23 the option could be exercised, if not then the buyout kicks in. Adding Phillips is a puzzling move considering ongoing speculation that Angels would like to add a 6th starter……….I don’t get it.
If the Angels are serious about winning the WS this year than sign Bauer to the league minimum when he becomes a FA. If it doesn’t work for any reason they could always release or trade him. Arte’s been wanting revenge on the Dodgers for years after they signed Greinke and the Angels reacted by signing Hamilton!
No Bauer…….he’s scum, plain and simple. He was scum in Cleveland, scum with the Dodgers and would be scum with the Angels. Don’t need his type in the clubhouse.
Scum’on man!
1.2 million to hit 144/.217/.249 yuuuuck. Why on earth was he not signed to a minor league deal? I find it hard to believe anyone was giving this guy a major league deal besides this sorry franchise.
80 grade for clubhouse presence and team bonding, my understanding is:) Go Brett! 🙂