TODAY: Moronta has been outrighted to Triple-A, according to MLB.com’s transactions page. It isn’t yet known if Moronta has accepted the assignment or elected free agency.
MAY 26: The Angels announced Friday that righty Reyes Moronta has been designated for assignment. His spot on the 40-man and active roster will go to pitching prospect Sam Bachman, whose contract has been selected — as was previously reported.
Moronta, 30, inked a minor league deal with the Halos on May 11 and was selected to the big league roster just ten days later. He appeared in two games and pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing a run on four hits and three walks with two strikeouts. With the Angels aggressively seeking solutions to balance out a top-heavy bullpen, his spot will go to Bachman, whom the Angels selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2021 draft.
Back in 2017-19, Moronta was a high-quality setup man for the Giants, pitching to a 2.66 ERA with a 29.8% strikeout rate across 128 1/3 innings. Command was an issue, which was easy to see with one glance at a 13.6% walk rate, but Moronta’s 97.1 mph heater and a plus, low-80s slider helped him to limit the damage from those free passes.
Shoulder surgery ended Moronta’s 2019 season a few weeks early and wiped out nearly all of his 2020-21 seasons, however. He returned to toss four innings with the Giants in 2021, allowing just one run in that time but also sporting a fastball that clocked it at an average of 94.3 mph — a nearly three mile-per-hour drop. The Giants removed him from the 40-man roster in September, and Moronta cleared outright waivers and subsequently elected free agency at season’s end.
The Dodgers signed Moronta to a minor league deal once the 2021-22 lockout was lifted, and less than three weeks into the season he’d made it up to their big league bullpen. He spent the next couple months as an up-and-down arm in L.A. before ultimately being designated for assignment and claimed off waivers by the D-backs. Overall, his 2022 campaign ended with 37 2/3 frames of 4.30 ERA ball, a 23.6% strikeout rate and an 11.2% walk rate.
Moronta’s 95.2 mph heater this year lined up with his 95.3 mph average in 2022, but both sit about two miles per hour shy of his peak. The Angels will have a week to trade him, attempt to pass him through outright waivers or release him. Moronta has enough big league service time to reject an outright assignment in favor of free agency, even if he goes unclaimed on waivers.
aragon
if bachman was drafted as a rp and we all knew he will be a rp in the bigs why the heck they made him a sp? a cp would be a better role for him to develop!
DCartrow
It takes a real Moronta mess that up.
HalosHeavenJJ
Bachman was drafted as a guy who might be developed as a starter OR could be fast tracked to the bigs as a reliever.
A team is always going to give a guy like that the opportunity to develop as a starter.
aragon
i remember minasian saying, after the draft, bachman would come up quickly to be a valuable member of the pen. was he lying or making excuse for wasting the first round pick?
M.C.Homer
Sam Bachman was “A three-year member of the Miami (Ohio) rotation” per MLB.com.
He was drafted as a starter.
The scouting reports I saw at draft time doubted his ability to be one. I also saw critcism that the Angels were dreaming, desperate and wasted a #1 on Sam who was destined to become a reliever in the critics opinion.
2 solid pitches, One flaming gas, the other off speed.
Sounds like a reliever to me and here we are.
Is it a waste to spend a #1 on a reliever?
In this case ask carllafong. She already detailed it. Sure could use some fresh RP arms.
Send Loup to p**p and bring up the kids!
Plugnplay
M.C.Homer, I’ve never ever, ever, ever heard of a pitcher developing a 3rd, and or a decent 4th pitch. Hahaha! Obvious sarcasm
Some need to put down there crystal ball, and just wait and see how Bachman turns out. If he turns out as just being a solid RP, so be it. Who knows, he could turn out to be a dominant closer, and that would be awesome. It would be better than 7 of the 10 drafted players before him, even being just a solid RP.
outinleftfield
About 8 out of every 10 pitchers taken in the 1st round of the draft start out as relievers in the majors.
Moronta and Webb were called up because the bullpen needed a fresh arm or two.
Bachman could still be used as a starter, but for right now with the Angels he will be used as a reliever. No other pitcher in the 2021 1st round has been called up at all. That says a lot about how well thought of he is by Minassian and the others in the Angels FO.
aragon
he has a good 4 seamer and a slider. 2 pitch starter? that’s why he was struggling in the minors as a starter.
amk1920
Drafting a RP with a top 10 pick is nasty.
Plugnplay
Amk exposing being one of those crystal ball guys. SP gone RP to start his career. Many, many pitchers have gone that route.
M.C.Homer
Thanks, appreciate both yours and amk’s opinions. Just here to bounce ideas around. I guess I’m somewhere in the middle. I feel if that pick turns out to be a dominant closer or back end RP with a decent MLB tenure, then heck yeah.
HalosHeavenJJ
Yep. You’d definitely want a starter there.
However, if the RP is a stud that saves you from having to pay another guy closer money for 5 years a team like the Angels could reallocate that payroll to a starter.
In the modern game, arms are kind of arms.
Zerbs63
Moronta is more bottom heavy
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
Bachman, Reyes Underdrive
You Ain’t Seen Nothin” Yet…..literally
carllafong
Good move. The Angels have at least four relief arms that could be added further into the season. This is a very good team with 11 blown saves. With a decent bullpen they’d have at least five more wins. They need to figure this out if they are going to win more than 90 games.
the gasman
We need some more addition by subtraction!! The second Loup is released our rotation immediately improves!
outinleftfield
Loup is not in the rotation. He is in the bullpen.
4.05 That number is why Loup is not going to be sent down or released right now. If the ERA doesn’t see some regression towards that number by the All Star break then there is a chance that he will. For now, no.
User 2079935927
He didn’t say Loup was in the BP. He was implying that when loop is no longer a members of Angels BP THE Angels starters will benefici. They won’t loose games because of him.
outinleftfield
They haven’t. They have lost 3 games because of him. The defense lost two others. That is why his FIP is half his ERA.
bronxmac77
“He returned to toss four innings with the Giants in 2021, allowing just one run in that time but also sporting a fastball that clocked it at an average of 94.3 mph.”
If a dude can’t make the bigs on a 94 mph fastball, he done been coached wrong.
James Midway
Wish it was Loup
GoogleMe
If Quijada wasn’t hurt, Loup would have been gone a long time ago. Angels still want a 2nd lefty to compliment Moore out of the pen.
kellin
He’s not helping. He should be gone, regardless of what the team thinks it needs. 7 of 13 appearances he’s given up at least 1 run, another appearance he had two hit batters (gave up two unearned), and has allowed 4 of 9 inherited runners to score.
HalosHeavenJJ
Interesting that Bachman was called up over some other guys, but let’s see what the kid has.
Moronta has been bad. Thankfully Devenski has bailed him out of two bases loaded situations.
Yovan is tearing it up in AA and Murphy is putting up Murphy like numbers again this month. There should be more help on the way soon.
kellin
Lets hope Bachman’s problem with walking batters doesn’t follow him to the majors…
bronxmac77
It will. It’s not like the plate is different sizes.
He’ll probably get nervous and throw things everywhere.
HalosHeavenJJ
Plus the hitters are more selective.
User 2079935927
As a consolation Perry told Moronta he could stay in Anahiem and park his Roach Coach out on Katella during Angels home games. On the condition Angel players get a discount. And he can’t use the Angels logo anywhere on his meals on wheels.Ariba!!!
kellin
Anyone have any idea why Nevin has gone with Ward instead of Moniak to start the game tonight?
bronxmac77
Because Phil is a Moniak…Moniak at your door.
Um, sorry. But any plausible reason other than injury would be as bad.
Angels & NL West
Left-handed pitcher. Looks like Ward has the short side of a platoon with Moniak.
bronxmac77
Good way to cool off your hottest hitter.
outinleftfield
See my answer to kellin.
Halo11Fan
I doubt the platoon will last. Moniak can’t come close to maintaining this pace with a 1 to 11 K to walk ratio, a 34% KRate and batting 563 batting average balls in play.
I expect June to not be a very good month for Moniak.
bronxmac77
Probably all true, boss. But if he’s hotter than a pistol, keep putting him in there. Hitting is rhythm and confidence. If he’s helping the team win ballgames, I’d ride that horse till it slowed down.
Long term, you’re probably correct.
Plugnplay
Bronxmac, there’s a lefty going tonight. Pretty simple why Wards in. It’s the right move, gotta keep that confidence up right. 😉
Halo11Fan
No problem with him playing. He’ll get the strong side of the platoon and probably a couple of ABs tonight.
outinleftfield
Kellin, Moniak has not started any games against a LHP. Luzardo is a lefty.
Please don’t think that Moniak can keep up this pace or anywhere close to it. He has a .563 BAbip going into tonight’s game. His BA will drop 200 points by the time he has 300 PA.
bronxmac77
If/When he cools off, play someone else.
This isn’t rocket science.
User 2079935927
Kelvin you not learn anything from Maddon’s firing from a year ago?
Maddon didn’t like the FO making out the line up or in game moves such as Perry calling into the dugout and telling Joe to take Trout out of the game-
outinleftfield
MAddon was fired because his team gave up on him or have you forgotten the 14 game losing streak.
Where you get that BS about calling the dugout I have no clue, but whatever you are smoking must be good.
User 2079935927
For the record Perry went Maddons house to inform Maddon he was or wanted to fire the entire coaching staff. Maddon stuck up for them and took the heat and thus Maddon is unemployed-
User 2079935927
Where did I get the BS? I read about it. Maddon has gone on record after firing that he will NOT manage a team that’s into analytics BS. He said the FO calling into the dugout during a game to remove a player is something Gene,Mauch,Billy Martin and Earl Weaver would never tolerate. (I know it was a different game when those 3 managed) I’m sorry you didn’t hear about it. And just because YOU didn’t doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
bronxmac77
If that porky-pie GM went to my house and tried that, I’d tune him up like a garage sale fiddle.
User 2079935927
The divide between old and new, manager and front office, data and art, Maddon and Minasian, reached a boiling point on May 9. The Angels had just scored five runs in the seventh inning against the Rays to turn a 6–3 lead into an 11–3 blowout. Ohtani hit a grand slam. The dugout was lively. Suddenly, head athletic trainer Mike Frostad walked up to Maddon at his usual perch on the top step of the dugout and said, “Perry just called down. He said get Trout out of the game.”
Earlier in the day Trout had complained about a bit of soreness in his groin. But later he told Maddon that the soreness dissipated, and he was fine.
To Maddon, Minasian broke a sacred code. The GM had called the dugout during a game to dictate strategy to the manager—a proven, veteran manager at that. To Minasian, he simply was deploying the power given to this generation of executives. Nothing was sacred. Nothing was out of bounds.
The next day Maddon blew up at Minasian in Maddon’s office. “Listen, don’t you ever f—— call down to the dugout again!” Maddon said.
User 2079935927
A month later, Maddon was fired.
The Angels were in the middle of a 12-game losing streak when Maddon was fired. Still, the team had been so successful over the first two months under Maddon that even the big losing streak only made them 27-29.
The Angels lost two more games even after firing Maddon before ending their losing streak. They proceeded to go a much worse 46-60 under Nevin, completely tanking and even becoming trade-deadline sellers.
Minasian and Maddon might not have seen eye-to-eye, and Minasian might have felt the Angels needed a big change amid their losing streak. But the results showed that firing Maddon was a bad idea. Had they stayed the course, their fortunes likely would have turned, and they would have had a good shot at getting back over .500 rather than backsliding and going further in the wrong direction as they ended up doing.
User 2079935927
outinleft-smoke em you got em. The defense rest your honor.
bronxmac77
leftout…
winslow sure told YOU, didden he?
User 2079935927
I don’t make up crap for attention like some people do.
bronxmac77
Tell em, win.
Testify.
outinleftfield
BS. The team lost 12 straight then Maddon was fired. He had lost the team.
cbssports.com/mlb/news/joe-maddon-fired-by-angels-…
NOT a month later.
outinleftfield
Links? Oh wait, you spout this BS all the time and won’t post links.
outinleftfield
He didn’t say anything corect, so no.
outinleftfield
And yet you did tonight.
bronxmac77
Heh heh heh heh… you guys.
HEH HEH HEH HEH!
outinleftfield
They went 6-18 after a 21-11 start.
outinleftfield
Did you feel Angels GM Perry Minasian wasn’t with you?
I can’t say that. I thought he and I were working really well together
theathletic.com/3353876/2022/06/07/maddon-angels-i…
outinleftfield
You may have noticed that Maddon has not even been interviewed for a job since he was fired. That says volumes about who was at fault and what every other team in baseball feels about him.
outinleftfield
The results show that firing Maddon was the right thing to do. This season is not possible with Maddon as the manager. The players were not responding to him as the 6-18 run and 12 straight losses showed.
User 2079935927
You said I didn’t know what I was talking about in regard to Perry calling into the dugout.
outinleftfield
You said you read it. Post a link.
Unless you mean you read it after you typed it.
outinleftfield
Notice, I come with receipts. Where are yours?
User 2079935927
He was fired a month later after the incident regarding Perry calling in the dugout. Are you that dense?
User 2079935927
Right because like I said before. He will not interview with a team that’s into analytics.
User 2079935927
I didn’t type it I pasted it from a SI article. You can’t accept the fact you’re wrong.
User 2079935927
That’s your opinion.
bronxmac77
“I didn’t type it I pasted it from a SI article. You can’t accept the fact you’re wrong.”
Hear that, lefty? You were WRONG! According to win, anyway.
Thoughts?
User 2079935927
I don’t have receipts because using a MAC to copy and paste.
outinleftfield
Moronta started out by walking 3 in two innings. That is what I had said was going to happen and why he would be DFA’d soon.
nukeg
Someone somewhere is holding a DNA sample that links Reyes Moronta to Bartolo Colon.
FarhanFan22
I always root for pitchers with big bellies. Makes me think of what my dad would’ve looked like on a major league mound.
bronxmac77
Mickey Lolich had a gut. And he pitched 300 innings on a regular basis. Fired it in there hard, too.
FarhanFan22
My favorite is Bronx great, David Wells. He’s one I wouldn’t mind sharing a beer with and hearing some stories from.
User 2079935927
He said his Grandmother could manage those Yankee teams to a WS title that Jo Torre managed
bronxmac77
One, that’s a tribute to Gene Michael, the architect of those teams.
Two, it’s not true. Joe Torre was great from 1996-2007, when he was let go.
Halo11Fan
He was horrible in two games. I actually applaud the quick decision.
prov356
This is a good move obviously. But now Loup and Rengifo need to be gone.
Plugnplay
3/4 agree prov. They do need to kick Loup to the curb, but With Rengifo, he should be the utility player, not in the cycle of players playing most days. Just another Nevin mis-use like his Pen choices.
prov356
Rengifo needs to increase his batting average by 30 points though for that role.
User 2976510776
Trial and error organization.
User 3595123227
Maybe he was a moronta the Angels so they had to let him go.
bronxmac77
And Ward singles in his first AB!
Phil Nevin… GENIUS!
outinleftfield
Do you know what Moniak’s BA is against LHP? 0.000. He has not had an at bat against one this season. He is 1 for 26 in his career.
bronxmac77
Yep.
Willie Mays started out 0-13. In his career.
I know that too.
outinleftfield
In parts of 3 seasons? Are you really trying to compare Moniak to Mays? Seriously? You have been drinking WAY too much.
bronxmac77
I’m comparing 0-13 to 1-26.
Simple as that.
Sports is a result-driven endeavor.
Nobody with either of those numbers, based on the number alone, deserves much of anything. Luckily, analytics dweebs weren’t running baseball in 1951. Even if they had been, Leo Durocher would’ve told them what to do with their stat sheets.
outinleftfield
Mays was ROY in 1951. He had 20 HR and an .828 OPS. He hit .310 in his first month in MLB with a ..288 BAbip. He hit .321 with a .972 OPS vs lefties that year. He was the antithesis of Moniak.
bronxmac77
But he started his career 0-13.
User 2079935927
It’s funny how you accuse others of being high and drunk. go look in the mirror.
bronxmac77
Ward whiffs.
Nevin is clueless.
Unless it’s those analytics dweebs.
bronxmac77
Ward Whiffs again.
Nevin is moronic.
But not Moniakic.
outinleftfield
Webb seen packing his bags after 7th inning
outinleftfield
Bachman’s cutter is lights out. Hope you are watching.
outinleftfield
Well, when you can’t get a fastball over, it doesn’t matter how good your cutter is. I spoke too soon.
outinleftfield
Struck out the side, but gave up a run.
outinleftfield
Think that is it for Bachman. Not an auspicious start.
outinleftfield
Well, that should have been it for Bachman, but Nevin left him in and he got out of the inning.
bronxmac77
And Ward, with the Golden Sombrero… KKKK!
How about that spittoon… I-I mean, plaTOON?
Heh heh heh heh…
Let’s get ’em manyana!
prov356
Detmers is 0-4 with an ERA close to 5.
bronxmac77
I’m no math major…but that’s not good, is it?
prov356
It’s bad mathmatically and philosophically and theoretically.
bronxmac77
Indubitably.
NativeAmerican
Shoot, I’ll be happy if he can close out the 7th or 8th inning and help us get to the 9th, picking up a hold every time out. That’s what I’m talking about.
bronxmac77
C’mon, Shohei!
bronxmac77
C’mon, Micketty Mick Mick Mick!
bronxmac77
Urshela! What a fella!
bronxmac77
C’mon Jared!
Oy! Nevermind.
C’mon Gio!
bronxmac77
Oy! Nevermind!
bronxmac77
C’mon, Micketty Mick Mick Mick!
Oy! But a SB for Neto.
C’mon Miketty Mike Mike Mike!
bronxmac77
Ohhhhhhh-tani. Be a hitter!
bronxmac77
C’MON Gio!
bronxmac77
Matty Matty Matt Matt Matt!
Twice as Thaiss!
bronxmac77
Uh oh. Miami using Soler power.
Now Ohtani can’t win the game.
Angels should kept Reyes Moronta.
bronxmac77
Silseth…one cool customer.
bronxmac77
WEEEEOOOO GIO!
bronxmac77
Estévez is FIRE!
C’MON Angels!
bronxmac77
C’mon Miketty Mike Mike Mike!
ARRRRRRIGHT!
Shohei the way to go home!
bronxmac77
Pffffft.
bronxmac77
Oh, Moniak. Oh, no. Oh NO!
);^O
bronxmac77
Wow. Berria is berrying the Angels.
With an assist from Moniak.
What a shame.
bronxmac77
Man, Gio came to play.
prov356
Welp, it looks like the bull pen and the defense snatched defeat out of the jaws of victory once again.
bronxmac77
It sounded ugly on KLAA.
I think Moniak clanked one on his glove.
prov356
Canning is looking good. Averaging 16 pitches per inning after 4.
Angels & NL West
I thought they may let Canning go back out for the 7th. His pitch count was manageable. That said, Joyce was fun to watch.
If Joyce, Bachman and/or Silseth can contribute until Moore returns, the Angels can make some noise. Estevez and Devinski are doing their part.
prov356
I was hoping for Canning in the 7th, and let Joyce have the 8th or close,,,great debut no matter what though,
nottinghamforest13
Bachman will be taking care of business.
prov356
Yep. He’s got to have an effective secondary though to stay up. The only non-fast ball he threw got hit for a single.
Dumpster Divin Theo
If Reyes gets traded to the Blue Jays or the Braves that would be ideal. One more Moronta in Moronta and Moronto