The Angels are hiring Steve Karsay to serve as bullpen coach, report Sam Blum and Will Sammon of the Athletic (X link). He’ll work alongside new pitching coach Barry Enright in Ron Washington’s first season leading the charge.
Karsay spent over a decade in the big leagues, suiting up for five teams between 1993-2006. He’d eventually move into coaching in the Cleveland farm system before joining a big league staff over the 2018-19 offseason. The Brewers tabbed Karsay as bullpen coach for three seasons under Craig Counsell. He stepped down in January 2022 to spend more time with his family.
The 51-year-old is evidently now in position to return to a regular coaching role. He’ll oversee a relief corps that was one of the worst in the majors this year. Los Angeles finished 25th with a 4.88 ERA and struck out only 22% of batters faced, the fifth-lowest figure in MLB. Only the Rockies had a worse run prevention mark in the second half, as All-Star closer Carlos Estévez tailed off down the stretch. Among returning relievers with 20+ innings pitched, just Estévez and José Soriano allowed fewer than four earned runs per nine overall.
Upgrading the relief unit should be a clear priority for GM Perry Minasian and his front office. The Halos have already been linked to Robert Stephenson, arguably the #2 free agent bullpen arm available.
It’s a start. I mean a relief
Coaching looks good. Now we just need players. News that the Angels are pursuing Snell hard is good, but they need three starters. Get Snell and then go get Seth Lugo and Wade Miley– but they need arms and two won’t get it done.
Would rather seen them go after Yamamoto. They need two SP and two BP arms. But the money, if they can’t bring back Ohtani, should go towards to top of the line starters.
Angels get another no-name unproven coach, the rest of league signs major league starting pitchers like Sonny Gray, Kenta Maeda, Aaron Nola, etc etc…But hey bullpin coaches win at least 10 games a year for a team, right? Well done Perry, what a brilliant and productive off season!!!! World Series champs in 2024 without a doubt.
Hey, I always wanted to ask you this Brian, were you on steroids?
As Angels fans I shake my head when I read comments like this. Dude seriously it’s November 28th. The season is months away.
He was, but baseball didn’t come down on steroids until 1990.
No one really had an issue because back in those days, it didn’t think it helped your game. Like greenies, no one considered it an unfair advantage.
“Nutritional supplements”
All teams’ fans are like this sadly. “Oh no, Maeda is off the board and only 46 of the top 50 FA are left”
All natural baby. Training, prayers and vitamins. I followed the Hulksters mantra
True, so we still have months to get some more coaches!! I like where you’re going here.
Brian- Wasn’t meant to pick on you. I just get tired of people on FB and MLBTR getting mad in November.BTW Downing was my all time favorite. players. We didn’t always have the best teams in the 80’s and 90’s but we had some awesome players. Also glad Downing has been back at the Big-A in recent years.
I think what hes trying to say is grab headlines by adding good players to the roster vs getting articles about coaches.
Smartest man on the site.
I’ve been an Angels fan since 1979, I don’t feel picked on, just having some fun at my teams expense. Their owner and front office brought my wrath upon themselves though.
High on life baby!!! And meth…
We still need a defensive coordinator.
I want them to fill the bullpen with good pitchers not crappy coaches.
Don’t forget special teams coach
The number pitching success stories and number of ws rings his “students” have had under his tutelage, for starters… What makes you think he’s not?
Are you offering me a hug sweetie? What else do you do, happy endings?
My old lady’s a man. Ahhh makes sense. Rainbow flag flying proud baby.
You are easily trolled bro. Gotta step up your game. Maybe you should hire a defensive coordinator to assist you.
Sign Bauer. He’s a hard nosed guy
Bauer would instantly be their opening day starter and staff Ace, as sad as that is to say. But he’s 10 times the pitcher the 5 minor league scrubs they ran out every day last season are. I’d be ecstatic if they signed Bauer.
Now that we 100 percent know the crazy woman was trying to extort money out of him, it’s time for this nonsense to end. He’s a weird guy, into kinky sex. So are plenty of people you talk to every day. He’s not a criminal, and he deserves to be back in the league. I would love it if my team signed him.
Ex-Indian is always a solid coaching choice
Ah yes, the Braves’ return in the John Rocker trade of 2001.
what a guy the Braves had!
Angels fans,I am truly thrilled for you! Ron Washington will be an excellent manager(really wanted him for the Mets!) and so far, his coaching staff is being filled with some really quality guys! Y’all have much to look forward to in 24!
Brooklynn-Thanks. Washington’s press conference was awesome. He sounds like a well spoken person. I can see why Ranger players and fans liked him. Hope your Mets win more games than the Yankees. in 24.
I remember this guy was on Yankees roster in SEGA World Series Baseball (2002) for Xbox lol. Great game
Hope he is a magician. We need one!
We just need good health.
Our bullpen needed magic more than anything, though.
Coach? He could’ve pitched for us last year.
Well, if Minasian’s idea for a solution is to guarantee a spot for Kolarek, Karsay doesn’t have a chance.
I can’t believe Kolarek signed a major league contract in November. The Angels need a starter and at least two RPs, and only have one spot left on the 40 man roster.
And that’s without adding any position players! I don’t know what’s worse, the Angels get lucky in 2024 and extend Minasian, or the Angels waste another year of Trout.
It’s not even December yet, chill out.
There is plenty of dead weight on the 40 man. They can add as many as they need and not worry about dropping anyone.
I hope Minasian stays away from Snell. He had an excellent season but is very familiar with the IL. He doesn’t go deep in games, plus the Angels need to keep their draft picks. It is next to impossible to win consistently without quality depth in the minors. For what they would have to pay Snell they could sign two top quality bullpen pieces.
Kolarek is the fringe guy, they still need two guys wasn’t really a overpay, they can cut him easily or send him down. I will wait patiently.
And they are penciling in a spot on the 26 man roster. They are basically giving him a million bucks with a spot reserved for him out of spring training.
Every player they add will be someone they kick off the 40 man roster. But what’s worse, is Kolarek will have to be terrible this spring or he’ll secure that spot on the roster. It’s a reserved spot.
Minasian learned nothing from his Claudio blunder. It’s almost an identical blunder.
Yep. It’s opportunity cost that is the issue here. This signing blocks opportunities at better ones.
Considering the dumpster fire that is our bullpen guys like Kolarek should have the Angels as their #1 spot to sign a minors deal. There’s a clear path to the bigs.
Perry must see something we don’t. Because I’d rather sign 3 of these guys to minors deals and see what happens in Tempe.
Exactly, it’s an opportunity cost issue.
Who do they have in the bullpen that’s a lock currently? Most of the guys that might lose a spot have options if he sucks you release him or send him down. The bullpen is currently estevez, and no one else
Rex, it’s a good point. It’s a little different than Claudio because then, few had options.
But the Angels can’t send him down, he will make the team, a spot for both the 26th man and 40 man roster will be utilized
It makes the situation less flexible. We need several players, this type of flyer didn’t need to be a lock.
You know you are getting old when guys you CLEARLY remember as a draft pick is now a veteran coach.
So far I love the coaching staff, it seems like guys gravitate towards Washington and WANT to be here helping him.
So far though I am disappointed to see Gray and Maeda off the board already. Two affordable guys that easily would have become our 1 and 2. Would rather have a deeper staff with a chance to win every day instead of an high priced Ace at this point. Lugo would be a nice add, but I feel he’d be a 3 on our current staff… hoping we see the plan soon 🙂
Aguacate – “…hoping we see the plan soon”
This is the plan. It’s the same plan we’ve had every offseason for several years. Moreno will wait until the annual “big fish” pitcher signs elsewhere. This year it’s Ohtani. By then all of the decent pitching talent is locked up and we are left signing one or two of the remaining comeback hopefuls that never work out. Then Moreno will sign a declining veteran bat for too much money and too many years so he can say he made a splash and addressed pitching. Then he will send the current GM out with the annual talking points that sound something like this: “We’ve addressed pitching and added some power to the lineup. We feel good about this team and look forward to Spring Training.”.
Every year it’s the same.
Your due !
We’re due a new owner.