The Angels have placed reliever Austin Warren on release waivers, according to the transaction log at MLB.com. If he goes unclaimed, he’ll be a free agent. Los Angeles had designated Warren for assignment yesterday when they acquired Guillermo Zuñiga in a minor trade with the Cardinals.
Warren is still rehabbing from the Tommy John surgery that he underwent last May. Injured players cannot be placed on outright waivers. Once the Halos DFA the right-hander, they had to either trade or release him. Given the unlikelihood of finding a trade partner, they moved quickly to put him on release waivers.
A sixth-round pick in 2018, Warren has spent his entire career in the Angels system. He pitched his way to the majors in 2021 and worked to a 1.77 ERA over 20 1/3 innings as a rookie. That dipped to a 5.63 mark through 16 innings in 2022, when he shuttled between Angel Stadium and Triple-A Salt Lake. Warren only made two big league appearances last year before suffering the injury that required surgery.
When teams release a player who are injured and can’t be outrighted, it’s fairly common for them to try to bring him back on a minor league deal if he clears waivers. If he gets to free agency, Warren could instead seek out opportunities with other organizations for the first time. It’s also possible a team places a claim and stashes him on the 60-day injured list with that avenue reopening in the next few days.
But, but…, in 1.2 innings pitched last year, he had an elite K-BB% of 33%.
6-0 lifetime. Borderline Hall of Famer.
bad timing for him to get cut. with the 60-man opening up, everyone will have 40 man space for him
or, a bad time to try and slip him through waivers, rather
Since he’s coming off TJ surgery, I’m assuming he’ll miss the beginning of the season. But best of luck to him wherever he lands.
This has Craig Breslow written all over it.
This can be a cold business at times.
He’s probably out this full season. Then he’ll get a minors deal somewhere and hope to earn a spot.
Did the Dodgers not just put Dustin May on the 60-day injury list?
Due to the over-seas games they have to play early, their pre-season has officially started so their allowed to put guys in the IL
Seems like under the right pitching coaches, like the Dodgers, Rays, etc, he could be a very good bullpen arm or possibly even a starter.
The right pitching coaches couldn’t do anything with Thor.
Thor was missing his hammer, you can come back from tommy john if you have other pitches syndergaard unfortunately doesn’t
Teams should be able to keep injured players on the 60 day IL. It’s dumb that a pitcher recovering from Tommy John surgery isn’t on the 60 day IL until they can pitch.