After finalizing a one-year, $2.5MM contract with J.D. Davis, the Athletics announced that they have designated Angel Felipe for assignment to open up a spot on the 40-man roster. The 26-year-old right-hander recently underwent Tommy John surgery, and he will sit out for the entirety of the 2024 season.
Felipe made his big league debut with the A’s this past summer. In 14 appearances (15 IP), he recorded 19 strikeouts but gave up 13 walks. While he allowed only six hits – five singles and a double – his control problems led him to give up seven earned runs. This was a common theme throughout his time in the minors, as well. Felipe knows how to induce groundballs and limit home runs, but his poor command comes around to bite him more often than he’d like. With all that being said, it’s worth mentioning that Felipe gave up three of his walks and three of his earned runs in his final appearance on August 14. He went on the IL with an elbow injury the next day and would not pitch for the rest of the season. Had his elbow recovered over the winter, he would have been a candidate for Oakland’s Opening Day roster.
Instead, Felipe will sit out until some point in 2025. Given his injury status and lack of prospect pedigree, there’s a good chance he passes through release waivers unclaimed. Oakland could have freed up a roster spot for Davis by placing Felipe on the 60-day IL instead of designating the young hurler for assignment. However, by taking this route, the team avoids having to pay Felipe a major league salary. Presumably, they took those potential savings into account when they offered Davis a contract.
Classy org stays classy.
Should be corrected in future negotiations as I agree. An injured player on the 40 man roster should get paid in full other than perhaps if it can be proven the injury was not baseball related.
Oh no, every a’s fan in America was looking forward to seeing this guy … both of them!
You’re like the Carlos Mencia of the MLBTR community. You do the same dee dee dee joke over and over again. You’re not funny.
in a classy sport. They just put the A’s back on revenue sharing after ownership clearly embezzled the money for half a decade.
Damn TJS and then a DFA.
Time to flip Felipe
People seem to be Feliping out over this move.
Why not just put him on the 60-day?
He would collect MLB salary and service time the entire time. He’ll be brought back on a “minor league deal” so that he can still rehab at team facilities but not be paid as much to not be able to pitch.
This is fairly standard procedure for injuries of this severity.
Not trying to argue, but are there examples of this being fairly standard procedure? It seems like I see more of teams moving people to the 60-day DL, but I could be wrong.
Yeah, the A’s don’t get much benefit of the doubt.
It is now the IL, not the DL
raydh, I can’t think of examples off the top of my head, but when the Angels did the same thing with Austin Warren earlier this off-season, the article here on mlbtraderumors noted that it was fairly standard procedure. However, Warren ended up signing with the Giants instead of resigning with the Angels.
@manny
We all know what he meant
Cool. Thanks.
Yes, but the reminder can’t hurt
Disability advocates urged the change and I support them
That was different because it was earlier in the offseason, so the 60-day IL wasn’t an option yet.
Pretty scummy thing to do when they could just put him on the 60-day IL. Clearly a penny pinching move by possibly the worst owner in MLB.
I could see them signing him back on a minor league deal to control his rehab
If he’s got true potential, hopefully a classier organization like the Red Sox sign him (tongue in cheek).
I wouldn’t consider the Sox to be more or less classy, they’re just cheap.
The Angels could use an Angel.
This is right up Farhans alley.
SFG has an open spot on their 40 man. Pick him up then 60 day IL. Only costs $750K.
For that kind of arm it’s worth it.
It would be a full circle move
Funny I looked over the 40 man roster , and I said Angel good as gone DFA . My roster also has Soderstrom and Butler starting in AAA . Allen to IL Hernaiz makes opening day at SS Jordan Diaz is DFA off the 40 man to make room for Carlos Perez Catcher who makes opening day as back up C
You put more thought into this than the FO.