Right-handed pitcher Carson Fulmer and infielder Charles Leblanc elected free agency on Monday, according to the transaction log on MiLB.com. The Angels sent both players outright to Triple-A last week.
Fulmer won’t turn 31 until December but has already spent time with seven different organizations: the White Sox, Tigers, Orioles, Reds, Dodgers, Mariners, and Angels. Over eight major league seasons, he has largely worked as a low-leverage reliever and occasional spot starter, pitching to a 5.38 ERA and 4.92 SIERA in 227 1/3 innings. Needless to say, that’s not the kind of pitcher the White Sox were hoping for when they selected Fulmer with the eighth overall pick in the 2015 draft. Nonetheless, teams always need arms to pitch innings, and Fulmer proved he could fill that role with the Angels in 2024. In his most productive season to date, he made 37 appearances (eight starts) and gave L.A. 86 2/3 innings with a 4.15 ERA and 4.39 SIERA. Outside of a brief stint on the injured list with elbow inflammation, he stuck with the club from the day he had his contract selected on April 8 to the end of the regular season. The promise and potential of the former first-round pick have long since evaporated, but there is value in a pitcher who can offer innings as both a starter and reliever, even if he doesn’t excel in any particular area. Fulmer shouldn’t have trouble finding a new team this offseason, although he might have to settle for another minor league deal.
Leblanc is not nearly as established a player, though he has played well in the brief opportunities he’s gotten at the major league level. Over 59 games split between the Marlins in 2022 and the Angels in 2024, he’s hit 10 doubles and six home runs, good for a .742 OPS and a 109 wRC+. A former shortstop, he now splits his time between all three bases. That versatility, along with his righty pop, are his primary selling points as a bench bat. The fact that he still has two minor league options years remaining could also make him attractive to potential suitors this winter. That being said, his mediocre Triple-A numbers over the past two seasons (.253/.381/.430, 108 wRC+) and his 31.5% strikeout rate in the majors explain why the 28-year-old hasn’t seen much playing time at the MLB level. He should be able to land somewhere on a new minor league deal, but he’ll have to earn his way back up if he’s going to get another shot in the big leagues.
Fulmer showed good signs better than overall numbers show. Contrasting home/away splits and had some good months. Nice back of the pen guy, I think he could do more with a better org.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Fulmer back with the Angels, but at the same time, they already have a lot of good arms in the pen.
They still need to upgrade. Stephenson is coming back sure, but need to see a full season of work for Joyce. I think they’re about 2 arms short. They lost Estevez, Garcia, and now Fulmer.
After watching him for half a season, I think he could help a team best as a Meryl Lynch wealth manager.
While I’m surprised by Fulmers career arc I’m not entirely sure what a new organization does for him. He’s had 7 to this point. He is what you see.
7 down, 23 more clubs for him to try to unlock the magic.
Anthony Banda unlocked the magic with the Dodgers–his 7th club.
His bulk of work with 2 days of rest hurt his overall numbers. He pitched a ton for a journeyman. A better org wouldn’t burn him out. I liked him on the Angels, but I don’t see them as a fit anymore
Leblanc has White Sox written all over him
Or As.
Why not, might as well give guys like him a look. He’s cheap, and he might turn out to be a decent hitter. Just under 200 plate appearances, he’s worth kicking the tires on.
Ok, I think something is wrong with OPS+ when a player with a .190 average has a 146 OPS+. I realize two of his four hits were home runs (more than Rendon this season), but uhm… what?
The problem is it treats OBP and Slugging % as equals when in reality, reaching base safely is more valuable.
That’s one major reason more and more people have transitioned to wRC+ as an offensive metric.
The problem is sample size. 7 BB and 2 HR in 21 AB is going to equal a high OPS+.
Fulmer is a really good comeback story and in a lost couple of years like the Angels have had he’s been fun to cheer.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see him come back, but he could potentially sign a minors deal elsewhere and work back to the MLB level.
I could see him sign with the Rays or Mariners, those two teams are pretty good at fully unlocking pitchers.
Mariners already had a turn. He’s still locked
They’re only a move or two away from being a playoff team as long as one of those moves is to immediately fire Ron Washington.
The other needs to be Arte selling the team.
Don’t hate on Ron Washington, hate Arte for not letting Perry and Ron work in peace…
It was curious that after he was effective coming out of the pen that the Angels tried to put him back in the rotation. Let him do what he has shown you he is good at.
Pads Fan
The Angels desperately needed arms and Fulmer has one.
I agree, he seemed better suited in the pen.. I hope he lands in a great place.
@angelsfan1972 they could sign him back.I wouldn’t mind them sending canning to the minors, and keep him as a emergency starter.
@rex
They need depth! So yeah sign him!
Oh no. One less player the Angels can claim as a “first round pick” on the roster. It’s Minasian’s MO.
Fulmer.
I bet he got his wild, herky-jerky delivery straightened out. When he was with the Tigers, he had far too many moving parts in his wind up and delivery.