The Angels have signed right-hander Connor Brogdon to a minor league deal, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. He has been assigned to Triple-A Salt Lake for now but will presumably receive an invite to big league spring training.
Brogdon, 30 this month, had a solid run with the Phillies earlier in his career but has faced some significant challenges more recently. From 2020 to 2022, he logged 113 innings for Philadelphia, allowing 3.42 earned runs per nine. He struck out 25.1% of batters faced while only giving out walks at a 7.3% clip. He was trusted enough to earn three saves and 16 holds in that time.
But things started to trend down in 2023. He posted a 4.03 ERA in 29 innings that year, though the underlying numbers were more concerning. His walk rate ticked up to 10.2% while he was only punching out 20.5% of opponents. The Phillies optioned him in June and he had a 5.46 ERA in Triple-A the rest of the way.
2024 was then mostly a lost season due to injuries. He was designated for assignment by the Phils in April and claimed by the Dodgers, with the latter club putting him on the injured list a few days later due to plantar fasciitis. He started up a few rehab assignments throughout the year but didn’t come off the IL until the season was over, getting outrighted off the roster in November and electing free agency.
It’s obviously been a rough couple of years but perhaps the persistent foot problems offer some explanation. If Brogdon can put those behind him and get back to his previous form, he would be a nice find, especially on a no-risk minor league deal. He showed some promise during his rehab assignments last year, throwing 13 innings with a 3.21 ERA, 34.4% strikeout rate and 8.2% walk rate. If he can earn his way into a roster spot, he is out of options but he has less than four years of major league service time, meaning he can be retained beyond 2025 via arbitration if he’s holding a roster spot at season’s end.
Honestly I’d prefer this to whatever “big splash” Arte is dreaming up.
Let’s get Polanco and maybe Minter or something and let the kids play. Keep all the draft picks and international singing money.
If anything, trade a player for a competitive balance pick.
Aye!
I wouldn’t mind brendan Rodgers, and Sewald. Newman/Rodgers can split time at 2nd once neto comes back. I rather have rengifo the 3rd baseman without moving him see if that helps his defense. Sewald will replace matt moore. The rest can be filled with minor league deals.
Not a bad plan.
Rengifo and Anderson are free agents after this year. At some point they’ll get moved. I think Rengifo might have more value now than mid season but Arte will want to pretend to compete.
I think Rengifo should be extended. What other 3rd base options does the team currently have? We can’t rely on Rendon and the only good free agent 3rd baseman will be Suarez, who will probably get re-signed by the DBacks.
I wouldn’t mind that either. He turns 28 next month and is a versatile player.
I just don’t want to lose him for nothing.
@kellin. Moore was getting reps at 3rd in the fall league. Might make sense to move him to 3rd and get a 2nd baseman or like i said Rodgers and newman. Newman has a option. I rather have them sell off what they can whether that happens is another story.
I agree with your strategy. Load up on minor league deals with spring invites, improve your depth , keep the kids and picks, and hope somebody breaks out.
@stretch. Was mad they didn’t trade Anderson last year, but they should be able to flip him this year. Angels won’t do a full rebuild just hoping they try something like the rays, and trade 4 players for 15, just to help with depth. Maybe even poach some international players from whoever gets sasaki.
Honestly as a Phillies fan I hope he can find his old self. I honestly felt Thomson(Phillies manager) overworked him and run him into the ground
Oh yeah! Angels are bringing IT!
You have to play in the project pool. There can be good finds there
When he first came up with the Phils, he reminded me a lot of Ryan Madsen. Great change up, moving fast ball, I think he had some injury issues and lost confidence.
Maybe a fresh healthy start will work.
Brogdon is not to far removed from good numbers. Looks like a good pick up.
*too