It was reported over the weekend that the Angels are one of several clubs interested in free agent catcher Martín Maldonado, but general manager Perry Minasian spoke at the Winter Meetings today and threw a bit of cold water on that idea. He told reporters, including Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register, that catching is “not an area we’re focused on currently.”
It’s always possible that the club’s plans could change as the offseason develops and it’s also possible that Minasian is merely trying to downplay their interest for the purposes of negotiation. But it does track that the club has bigger fish to fry elsewhere. Top of the agenda is surely figuring out whether they can lure Shohei Ohtani back to the club. Even if they were to succeed there, the next priority would likely be addressing a pitching staff that disappointed in 2023, with Ohtani unable to help there since his elbow surgery will prevent him from taking the mound in 2024.
The catching corps, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to be in bad shape. Logan O’Hoppe missed four months of the 2023 campaign due to a torn labrum in his left/non-throwing shoulder, but he looked good when on the field. He hit 14 home runs in just 51 games and produced a line of .236/.296/.500 for a wRC+ of 113. His glovework wasn’t quite as strong but he he’s still quite young, not turning 24 until February, and is likely still developing in that department.
The club also has Max Stassi, who missed all of 2023. He started the season on the injured list due to a hip strain and stayed away from the club even after that injury healed, as he was dealing with a personal situation. After the season, he and his wife revealed on Instagram that their child was born three months premature and dealt with a series of health challenges that prevented him from rejoining the club. Thankfully, it seems the worst of that situation is over. Stassi’s agent Joel Wolfe told reporters last month, including Fletcher, that the couple had brought their son home and Stassi is planning to play in 2024.
It’s tough to know what to expect from him after that lost season and a disappointing 2022 campaign wherein he hit .180/.267/.303. But he’s been considered a strong defender throughout his career and hit a much stronger .250/.333/.452 over 2020 and 2021. That led the Angels to give him a three-year, $17.5MM extension which will see him make $7MM in 2024, with a $7.5MM club option for 2025, which comes with a $500K buyout.
The club has a third backstop on the roster in Matt Thaiss. He had a fairly decent campaign, helping to fill in for the absences of both O’Hoppe and Stassi. He slashed .214/.319/.340 for a wRC+ of 84, just a bit below the production of the league average catcher, which came in at 89 wRC+ in 2023. Thaiss is out of options, which puts him in a somewhat precarious roster position as the third catcher on the depth chart. Another injury could always change things or the club could perhaps carry all three on the active roster next year, but it’s also possible he could find himself squeezed out of the picture at the end of Spring Training.
Given those options, it seems fair to conclude that Minasian was being frank in saying that the club is focused elsewhere for now. Things can always change with new developments, either a trade or an injury or something else, but the club’s priorities appear to be elsewhere for the moment.
Hmm. RIP previous rumor 🙁
Pretty bold not being focused on catching, considering it is a part of recording outs. But hey, maybe the Angels are onto something here.
Angels have 3 catchers including one of the best rookies at the position last season. It’s probably the only area that the Angels don’t have any need.
I think it’s to save money by not buying any more gloves.
Well that was exciting
I hated to lose O’Hoppe in the Marsh deal, even though I understood the logic. Just a terrific kid, and he will make me follow the Angels a bit from afar to see how he develops. Barring further injury, I expect him to be a top ten catcher in the next couple of years.
And Marsh helped the Phils almost winning. the NLCS. I think, if the Phils beat the Snakes they would have one the big thing.
Marsh has been better as a hitter than advertised, as the Phils have managed to help him to improve his approach and refine the mechanics a bit. Another great kid and I am happy to have him in Philly.
Interestingly, his defense has been somewhat spottier than the reputation before he got here. Some of it I attribute to the fact that while playing CF he was too often trying to make up for Schwarbs in left and Casty in right and the communication was poor. He did appear to be a plus fielder in left, while Rojas is unequivocally a better defender in CF.
If Marsh continues to grow at the plate, then he will be a solid LF that can also handle center. A good trade for both teams.
Carver, likewise, I became a fan of the Phillies to keep track of Marsh.
Both seem to be really good baseball players and great human beings
O’Hoppe as the starter, 2 back ups in Thaiss and Stassi. No need for another.
That was my thought too. The two backups actually did a decent job last year.
Will thaiss even make the roster? They will probably get a triple a catcher.
Twenty six man roster and baseball is reducing the amount of pitchers a team may carry.
Stassi missed an entire season. O’Hoppe missed more than four months.
If I was a betting man, I’d bet yes. But I don’t feel strongly about my bet.
Stassi should be fine now that mystery is solved, surprised they didn’t even say missing time due to pregnancy complications. Thaiss will probably accept his assignment not sure if he will garner that much interest. If not they can find someone that wasn’t signed to stash in the minors.
Thaiss can also play 1b so they may keep him around for the flexibility.
Players who sit a significant portion of the year are typically are not fine.
Not Trout, Rendon, O’Hoppe, Walsh. Or looking back Upton.
If two of Rendon, Trout, and O”Hope play full seasons, the Angels will be in great shape.
Add Neto to that as well.
Why surprised? First, it wasn’t a pregnancy issue, they gave birth to a child they weren’t sure was going to survive. Second……….it’s nobody’s business.
They could’ve released a vague statement instead of radio silence, most of people here thought he was in rehab.
It’s not the fans business, but it is the business of the people who are paying him.
I don’t mind the Angels keeping it close to the vest. What upsets me is the didn’t disclose Rendon’s injury and the jerks in the press went after Rendon.
Screw Sam Blum. Blum is a POS.
I think they have a restricted list, I know zobrist was put on something, walked in on his wife having a affair and was going through a divorce, and they put him on something for three months. I’m sure angels could’ve been more up front not even with a explanation could’ve said he’s out for the year.
But the Angels paid him for five months before putting him on the list, and that was only to get the Angels under the cap.
There are a lot of anti Moreno sentiment, not all of it is fair.
Paying Stassi as long as they did was pure class.
Ok didn’t know that, makes sense. My comment was surprised they didn’t say anything not even asking details, I don’t blame stassi for missing time, and I don’t hate babies.
I have never understood why they don’t make more trades like that with young players in baseballl. If you have really good young player and he has no roster spot on the big league club trade him for another young player with similar talents for the position you do need.
Thaiss is pretty much a dh/ 1st baseman, emergency catcher at best. not that great at hitting. He could get claimed by some bad teams. But virtually has no trade value.
thaiss was a catcher first. The angels transitioned him to 1b in the minors.
I know, he’s just not a very good one. Probably why they switched positions.
Best of luck to Stassi – the game goes out the window when you’re in that kind of situation
The title of the article was cut off. It should’ve read, “Minasian: Angels Not Currently Focused On Catching…A Break”
May as well go full send on the headline – “Angels not in Maldonado sweepstakes”
Mal has a tendency to release his glove out of zone when catching a pitch on his left side. I don’t know how many calls he loses but when he was with the Angels, he seemed to lose a few.
You have to have a catcher because if you don’t you’re likely to have a lot of passed balls.
– Casey Stengel
Almost, He was available to play last year, he chose not to, therefore he doesn’t get the full 7 million. He should have gotten only half of it, but the Angels didn’t press it. My guess is he got between 5 and 6.
He was available to play but chose not to. I sure hope you don’t have kids.
The good news is Stassi’s son.
The bad news is he’s been really bad since his concussion in 2021.
They should resign Chad Wallach to a minor league deal for added depth.
Not sure if wallach gets a minor league deal, he might get a backup spot. would say in a perfect world I would trade stassi for salary relief, spend the extra money on bullpen pieces they need a lot of help.
I’m afraid no one would take on Stassi’s contract after missing the entire 2023 season and his previous season (2022) being massively disappointing.
Yikes, you’re fun
You must be an Azerbaizan.
That was Azerbaijan.
Perry Minasian is more interested in punishing the lunch buffet than acquiring a catcher.
Ron Washington made an interesting non-comment about where Ohanti will land. You can almost read into it that he knows Ohtani is coming back.
Eppei his interpreter, just bought a house in Long Beach, really doubt ohtani will bail on him.
Well, the other option *is* the Dodgers, after all. Long Beach is still LA county, even if it’s one of the farthest points to Chavez Ravine. But, if the rumors about Ohtani wanting everything kept quiet are true, Roberts just blew it for the Dodgers. Although, really, how can you possibly keep anything Ohtani does quiet.. people will see him on the street when he visits places.
“But he he’s still”
What’s so funny?