Angels outfielder Randal Grichuk was not claimed on outright waivers, reports ESPN’s Jeff Passan. He’ll remain with the Halos unless they surprisingly choose to outright him to a minor league affiliate, at which point Grichuk would have the right to elect free agency.
Los Angeles acquired Grichuk from the Rockies on July 30. The veteran outfielder had a .308/.365/.498 batting line at the time. He hasn’t hit at all since landing in Southern California, posting a .168/.220/.347 slash in 109 plate appearances as an Angel. Grichuk’s strikeout rate is up more than four percentage points relative to his time in Colorado.
Dismal batted ball luck has surely played a role. After hitting .363 on balls in play for the Rox, Grichuk owns just a .181 BABIP for the Halos. Nevertheless, other clubs were concerned enough about his recent drop-off not to add him to the roster. Los Angeles successfully moved on from Hunter Renfroe — he was claimed by the Reds — so they’ll presumably keep Grichuk on the major league club to play out the stretch run.
The 32-year-old is making $9.33MM on the season. That’s being divided among three teams. The Blue Jays are covering $4.33MM as part of the trade that sent him to Colorado over the 2021-22 offseason. The Rockies are paying down around half the remaining salary as a condition of the trade with the Halos, leaving Los Angeles on the hook for the prorated portion of approximately $2.5MM. Grichuk will be a free agent at the end of the season.
I called this one… he’s been pretty bad for the Angels.
Randall kicking the can through the lot as he shuffles into the stadium.
I’m sure Arte Moreno is also kicking the can as he walks to his office at the stadium.
Haha they are both fighting over who gets to kick the can
He’s been bad/mediocre his whole career
Man, nah. They tried him already. It’s Randal Grichuk. They need players who hit in the clutch. Randal is not that.
Why did atkins not claim to play against lefties? Jays have insufficient OF to play against LHP and Grichuk has a .970 OPS against lefties this year. Instead the Jays use that roster spot on…Mason McCoy.
They likely put a claim on Renfroe instead. If they had put a claim on both they could have been stuck with both.
Both is better than none, and it was clear Renfroe would be claimed by someone before.
I agree but that’s just a possible reason. They also would have had to clear two 40 man spots.
Merrifield is their outfielder when they are facing a lefty. Mason McCoy was brought up to back up the infield.
The Jays dont need any more IF, they need bats that can hit lefties. PH bats, OF bats etc.
For example, DH against lefties. Belt plays against righties but hey now you can slot a .970 OPS against lefty guy there instead of….Whit, or Espinal or Kirk.
Atkins was a terrible GM. If the Jays miss the playoffs he deserves to lose his job
Have no problem with Grichuk staying. I think he now settles down and gets back to his more normal numbers. He will help the Angels for the rest of this season.
help them do what
Watch them start playing well now that all pressure is off to make the postseason.
He’s a free agent now.
Nevermind. Looks like he goes back to LA.
Seemed like a reasonable candidate to replace Luplow on the Twins. Curious choice to pass on the higher ceiling.
I thought he could be good on the Twins, too, but the Twins have a lot of players about to be healthy–in theory–and needing to be placed somewhere.
Quite shocking
Not sure if anyone has said this elsewhere. 5 of 6 and $7 million salaries saved puts Angels below the CBT threshold. That means they save a million or two more in CBT fines.
It also means that they will get more for Ohtani when he leaves and pay less when they sign the inevitable FA hitter with a QO.
Rumors are that Rendon is still experiencing bleeding on the bone from fouling that ball off his leg and is considering retiring. Could the Angels be that lucky?
It would be very smart of HIM to retire.
I’m almost 60 and feel every sports injury I’ve had in my life every single day.
I’d tell him..
Wait till you’re 60 Tony…you’re..32 now?
And in rough shape dude.
Don’t add on to the inevitable.
Internal bleeding in the bone has to lead to some permanent degradation of said bone…?
Any medical experts out there?
I joke when i call him Tony 2 ice bags.
But that’s not very nice.
That’s his future reality.
It is a little surprising the no one claimed him in that he was owed so little on the books.
I know it is a long shot at this point but I hope Trout comes back soon and the two of them get some games in together. I have read they remained good friends over the years. A little bit of a feel good story if it happens.
Turning the page…
The Angels will have an extremely youthful team for the month of September. Guess we will get to see a late/ modified version of spring training this year.
Damn, how many teams is he getting paid by, like 4? Respect to him!
I’m really curious how these moves the Angels have made will effect the perception of the franchise in player’s eyes moving forward. Obviously no one is turning down a gigantic bag of money; but situations where the offers are close this off-season, I can’t help but wonder if LA is going to be at a disadvantage.
Can’t help, but yeah, they’ll still get the player in most cases if they offer the most money.
Baseball Players already have short memories(due to necessity)and large bags of money gives them near total amnesia.
Their situation was so unique with Ohtani. They were basically tied with New York and Seattle, neither of whom added at the deadline. NY sucked and waived Bader. If Seattle had sucked, they might have waived Teoscar Hernandez. If LA of Anaheim hadn’t had Ohtani, they’d only be waiving Renfroe and Moore
Another great Minasian trade
Arte Moreno Please sell the team you’re the clown of baseball how embarrassing when we needed starting pitching three years ago the free agency market what do you do sign Anthony Rendón? You hand-picked him do us Angels fans, a favor adios don’t forget your sombrero