June 20: The Angels have officially announced the transactions, with Padlo being selected and Suarez transferred to the 60-day IL as the corresponding move.
June 19: The Angels are selecting the contract of corner infielder Kevin Padlo, reports Robert Murray of FanSided (Twitter link). He’ll add some depth to a team that has lost each of Zach Neto, Gio Urshela and Anthony Rendon to the injured list over the past few days.
Padlo, 26, returns to the big leagues for a third consecutive season. He has only appeared in 23 MLB contests, which has somewhat remarkably been split between four teams. A frequent depth target for clubs via waiver claims or DFA trades, Padlo has played for the Rays, Mariners, Giants and Pirates.
The former fifth-round draftee hasn’t found success in those scattered stints. He’s a .109/.163/.152 hitter over 49 trips to the plate. Padlo has a strong minor league track record, though, including a .250/.340/.477 slash in more than 1000 career plate appearances in Triple-A. Since signing a minor league deal with the Halos last offseason, Padlo has put together a .273/.396/.555 slash in 32 games for their highest affiliate in Salt Lake. He connected on seven home runs, walked at an excellent 16.4% clip and has kept his strikeouts to a tolerable 23.1% rate.
Padlo has played mostly third base in his career. Prospect evaluators have generally not been enamored with his glove at the hot corner, suggesting he’s more of a fringe defender there. He’ll add some depth at the corners for skipper Phil Nevin, joining Brandon Drury, Jared Walsh, Luis Rengifo and Michael Stefanic in what has become a mix-and-match infield out of necessity.
The Angels have an opening on the active roster after placing Rendon on the 10-day IL this afternoon. They’ll need to clear a spot on the 40-man roster before tomorrow’s series opener against the Dodgers; left-hander José Suarez stands out as a speculative candidate for a move to the 60-day injured list, since he has already missed almost six weeks and seems without a clear timetable for a return. Padlo is out of minor league options, so now that he’s rejoining an MLB roster, the Angels will have to keep him in the majors or risk losing him to another club.
what?
Why?
Padlo is a SoCal guy, so he may have grown up an Angel’s fan. Also, he has a birthday coming up, so this may be a Make A Wish granted.
Fletch sitting there thinking….”what about me?” I’m sure he’ll be back up soon. Hang in there kid
He’s on the bereavement list. At least he was at the evd of last week.
Just checked. He’s off the list.
My only thought is adding Fletcher back to the duster would mean another DFA and waiver run to send him back down.
Not anymore.
They picked this guy over Fletch? I wonder if Perry has it in for him….
80 point higher OPS. 100 point higher SLG. He actually hits an occasional HR.
Who did Fletcher piss off? Padlo makes Rengifo look like a HOF hitter.
.273/.396/.555/.950 with 7 HR in 32 games
vs
.367/.421/.447/.869 with 1 HR in 39 games
Who are you taking? I am taking the guy who can occasionally take one out of the park.
I will take the guy who has history of hitting in the MLB. Fletcher. Minasian/Nevin must think everyone except Trout should play every position even though that seems a fad these days.
I’m taking the guy who gets on base – Fletcher. Not everyone in the lineup can or should hit homeruns in my opinion. Unfortunately that’s what fans expect now though. I remember Brett Butler with the Dodgers, et al. He was the perfect lead-off guy cuz he got on base. He hit a total of 54 dingers over a 17 year career but had a career .377 OBP. That’s what Fletcher’s role should be.
And those numbers are unproven for Padlo. His .109/.163/.152 MLB line is what we need to look at. Fletcher’s MLB line is .277/.323/358/.681.
Padlo’s full MLB line is .109/.163/.152/.315. They are not even close.
I’d like to see the record with and without Fletcher. Seems to me the team plays better when Fletcher is in.
I agree, Homer. Fletch brings a scrappiness to the line up and defense.
Meanwhile Tony 2-Bags is watching his favorite cartoon having a popsicle.
Fletcher is off the IL. PAdlo requires a 40 man spot too, but Fletcher is still in AAA. Interesting.
I just checked, for what it’s worth, Dominic was on the bereavement list as well.
Padlo is a banger
He STINKS
Padlovian reaction
Padlo has a knack to appear in multiple cities/teams and do absolutely nothing then get DFA to another city/team
I didn’t realize replacement level players now count as “depth”. What team doesn’t have “depth” these days?
I coached Kevin on a Little League all star team and have consequently watched just about every MLB at bat he’s ever had. Good power, decent glove, strong arm and a great mind for the game. He’s simply been unable to hit at the major league level. I guess that’s been the story for thousands over the years. He and travel ball teammate Tyler Wade were always the best of the best growing up but neither has hit at the highest level.