10:46am: The Angels have formally announced Davis’ selection to the big league roster. Moncada is indeed headed to the 10-day injured list due to a right thumb sprain. Left-hander Jack Dashwood has been designated for assignment to open a 40-man roster spot for Davis.
10:42am: The Angels are selecting the contract of veteran corner infielder J.D. Davis, MLBTR has confirmed. Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register first reported that Davis was in the visiting clubhouse in Tampa this morning. A corresponding move isn’t yet known, though third baseman Yoan Moncada has been dealing with a thumb issue this season and exited yesterday’s game early.
Davis, 32 later this month, signed a minor league deal with the Angels over the winter. The eight-year veteran didn’t originally make the cut this spring but has gotten out to a strong start with Triple-A Salt Lake, slashing .297/.357/.486 with a pair of homers, a double, four walks and eight strikeouts in 42 plate appearances (9.5 BB%, 19 K%).
Originally selected with the No. 75 overall pick by the Astros back in 2014, Davis debuted with Houston briefly in 2017. He didn’t get much of a look that year or in 2018, and the ’Stros traded him to the Mets ahead of the 2019 campaign. From 2019-23, Davis was a productive hitter for the Mets and Giants, batting a combined .268/.352/.443 (119 wRC+) with 63 homers in just over 1800 plate appearances. He was a bit strikeout-prone, at 27.3%, but he also walked in 10.2% of his trips to the plate.
Davis’ numbers slipped closer to average in the final season of that stretch, however, and he experienced a pronounced downturn at the plate in 2024 when he batted just .218/.293/.338 in 157 plate appearances between the A’s and Yankees. Davis actually cut his strikeout rate a few points last season and still made hard contact at a strong 43.7% clip, but his ground-ball rate spiked to a career-high 61.4%. For a player with sub-par speed, a deluge of even well-struck grounders isn’t a recipe for success. At his peak from 2019-22, Davis saw his ground-ball rate settle in just shy of 47%.
Moncada, 29, signed a one-year deal this offseason that guaranteed him $5MM. He’s battled thumb pain throughout spring and the season’s early stages. He’s appeared in only eight games and tallied just 27 plate appearances, going 4-for-21 with a pair of doubles, six walks and eight strikeouts (.190/.370/.286).
A ballyhooed international signing and one of the focal points of the failed White Sox rebuilding efforts, Moncada looked destined for stardom early in his career — so much so that Chicago signed him to a five-year, $70MM extension. Given the switch-hitter’s .315/.367/.548, 25-homer breakout back in 2019, that contract seemed like a sound investment. But Moncada’s output in subsequent seasons has routinely been sapped by injuries. He appeared in only 404 games over the life of that five-year pact (which, notably, included the shortened 2020 campaign) and hit just .244/.326/.395 along the way. That was roughly league-average production, so it wasn’t a total flop, but the Sox had much, much loftier expectations when signing him to that deal.
The 27-year-old Dashwood was added to the Angels’ 40-man roster ahead of the 2024 Rule 5 draft. He only pitched 10 innings in Double-A last year due to injury, but Dashwood posted a 15-to-1 K/BB ratio in that time and followed that truncated season with a big performance in the Arizona Fall League: another ten innings with just four runs on 10 hits and a huge 17-to-2 K/BB mark. The 6’6″ southpaw has been rocked for a dozen runs through his first two Triple-A frames this season, however.
The Angels will have five days to trade Dashwood, after which he’ll need to be placed on waivers. That’d be another 48-hour process. It’s possible he could be waived prior to that five-day mark as well, but either way, the Halos will get a resolution on his DFA within the next week.
JD Davis? Typical Angels. Pathetic.
It’s hard when the guy you’re paying a guy $35 million per year to allegedly play third but actually be a welfare brat
Some people are nuts. Davis is not the 3rd baseman, Rengifo is.
When Neto comes back, he’ll be the shortstop. Second will go to Anderson or Paris.
I’m not sold on Paris. He’s seeing fastballs more than half the time, typically hitters see fastballs a little over 35% of the time. Pitchers adjust. Paris will have to adjust.
Davis doesn’t figure into the plans, he’s just a body.
This team is not a pushover. Adequate staff, good pen, adequate hitting. It may not be a great team, but they are not going to roll over either.
This is not true. There are very few pitchers that throw fastballs 35% of time. Most pitchers throw majority fastballs.
You can check Mike Trout. He has seen fastballs 65-68% of the time since 2011.
You will see every player on the team is facing the same amount of fastball since they are all facing the same pitchers.
They have already tried to throw him up in the zone, but that isn’t working. They will make more adjustments and eventually find something that works. He is not going to be this hot for long.
The next 6 games against the 2 Texas teams will tell us a bit more about this team. They need to win at least 3 of the next 6 games if they are legit.
I understand your skepticism, but I heard something completely different yesterday.
Just for the Angels. Here are there fastball pct.
Soriano 2.3%
Kikuchi 36.6%
Jack K 29.4%.
Hendricks 18.3%
Tyler Anderson 43%.
I don’t think it’s as high as you think it is.
Mike Trout is different. They get him out on high fastballs. He has a hole at the top of the zone.
They will look for a hole in Paris’s swing.
Adell is hitting over 400 on breaking balls, they’ll throw him fastballs.
They typically don’t throw fastballs to players that can hit them. They will start throwing breaking balls to Paris. He’s at 68% fastballs. That will change.
You can go to baseball savant and go to Mike Trout page. It will give you the breakdown of pitch tracking. There are 3 categories, fastball, breaking and offspeed.
Sinker balls, 4 seamers, and cutters are all classified as fastballs. Now that i see you only have Soriano at 2.3% when he throws mostly sinkers. You must be referring specifically to 4 seamers. I believe this is the discrepancy.
As I mentioned earlier, they are trying to pitching Paris up.. You are mostly going to pitch up in the zone with 4 seamers. You are not to pitch up in the zone with sinker. It hasn’t worked yet. Paris has a high whiff rate, so it is not like he doesn’t have a hole in his swing.
Data driven talk….i like that.
That’s where I’m looking and that’s where I got the data.
On Fantistics insider baseball, they talked about this, and their opinion was Paris was receiving an abnormally high percentage of hittable fastballs based on his past track record. They said that was going to change. I believe them.
It’s hard when the guy you’re paying $35 million per year to allegedly play third is actually just a welfare brat
@mcnasty. He’s coming off the bench. So it’s really not pathetic to have a mlb player off the bench playing once a week.
This ignores who is taking the starting spot, Rengifo cant play CF, 2B and 3B at the same time. Which means ur going to see a lot more of Tim Anderson. Not good the Angles to be trying to compete with two players that failed for the White Soxs.
@uncle. Anderson and newman will spilt ss. It’s really not doom and gloom because Paris wasn’t playing now he’s starting and he’s been the hottest hitter even since spring training. 4 homeruns in the last 5 games and like three game winning hits.
Uncle – Rengifo doesn’t have to play CF with Paris and Adell. Right now we have enough healthy depth to cover this.
Neto is almost ready. He’s less than a week away.
Why is anyone talking about Anderson or Moncada? Next week the infield will be Rengifo, Neto, Paris and Schanuel.
@halo11fan. Because the article is about moancada. Why do people talk about neto moving to second base. Real talk it’s actually a blessing not a curse the infield is going to be how it’s should’ve been to start the year. Moancada, newman, Anderson off the bench isn’t bad
Neto didn’t show a lot of range last year and he has a surgically repaired shoulder. And Anderson is likely a better shortstop, However, the Angels have not shown any sign they are moving him off short.
No need to talk about it now.
So I’m talking about Rengifo, Neto, Paris and Schanuel being our infield next week. Davis and Moncada won’t be,
@halo11fan. Just giving you a hard time halo. I agree, and that’s best rotation. I wouldn’t mind if moancada plays first every once in awhile for schanuel because he has looked like crap. Paris can play center once a week to let Anderson play.
Thats first place in the AL Angels too you little boy nasty.
@bkbk. The trolls can’t troll and it shows. Disclaimer not saying they will win the world series, but they look decent. Probably something around .500
@bk
first place?
@russian. Fine maybe he hasn’t looked at the standings, but Texas has played more games so it’s possible. they are winning the rays 10-1 currently. Puts them a game behind Texas with one less game played so atleast a tie is possible.
yeah
The sports guy equivalent of “There, their, they’re”
@bk
you should check things before you say them then.
@bkbk they r.
@russian. Either it’s probably in response to people saying the angels will be lucky to win 40 games. Yes several people said it probably the same person with 5 accounts but it was said. Another series win from the dumpster diving angels with no prospects.
@rex and six home runs today, but the team has no offense.
@kellin. I’m glad it’s silenced the detractors. All they can say is 5 million dollars for moancada is crazy which is the going rate for a backup. It works out for Davis because he might stick with the club. I think Lopez is gone in a week hopefully players are using his torpedo bat while they can.
From first to worst by end of the season. No way they can even compete with the A’s.
@badmojo. Yep I would say they suck so bad they can’t compete with the whitesox, but wait they won two out of three. They also won every series so far. I would ask if you watched any games or have anything to support your claims, but your probably like Chris Matthew’s, and have a tingling feeling up your leg.
2nd place to the Rangers, but better than expected.
Wining Tee-Hee-Hee
It’s not pathetic at all. Not when you consider that Rendon and Moncada are injured (i.e., the projected starting 3B and backup 3B) and now Rengifo will likely be starting at 3B, with JD Davis simply taking a bench spot as the 26th player. This is fairly decent depth considering the scenario.
We’ve seen moncada on the IL before…
*Polanco
Its much harder to see Moncada on the field.
3rd base is a vast Angels vortex of nothingness.
@nukeg I’m guessing Rengifo will just take over 3rd at some point this season, and everything will be fine with Neto at short and Paris at 2nd.
That’s a great scenario kellin.
The Angels signed Rendon and Moncada to play 3B. It appears ownership is trying but the players are China dolls that have no interest once signed.
And here I had such high hopes for the Angels. They’ve got some exciting young players and were going to be one of the big surprises of this season. But now that has all been shut down with the addition of JD “waaaaaa” Davis. He will single-handedly kill their season. Yes, he’s that powerful.
I dunno, gotta admit I’m a little scared of his upcoming series with SFG.
He might be anger motivated to perform.
He can be dangerous in short bursts.
@tell. Davis will play 2 games, and be cut when neto comes back. Neto is playing short in the minors already so he’s coming back very soon. Moancada and rendon on the dl was expected Paris came out of nowhere and is raking so they aren’t needed.
Disagree. I don’t think Davis gets cut unless Moncada comes back. Moncada was supposed to be the everyday 3B and now that’s Davis. Neto coming back will likely cut Lopez, or maybe Newman. But Davis is either starting at 3B or a bench bat for the foreseeable future.
@cybertron. So i agree moancada was the third baseman until Paris emerged he came out of centerfield pun intended, but you can’t bench him now. Lopez hasn’t even played but once and a pitched out of the bullpen he’s definitely going to be cut. It might come down to Davis or Anderson down the line. Newman i think is safe because he’s a good defender. Lugo could be the 4th outfielder and occasional 2nd baseman.
@Rex Seeing as the front office has been cutting minor league guys and has difficulty admitting when its wrong about signing people, I wouldn’t be surprised if its Noda or Kavadas, as both Lopez and Newman were signed to major league contracts.
I don’t think we will see Moncada for a while on the 10 day disabled list. I’m sure he’s going need to go Salt Lake City for rehab.
@kellin. Lopez is making league minimum. Newmans on the other hand will stay, and I’m fine with that. he’s a decent backup/ defensive replacement. I wouldn’t mind Davis taking some time away from Schanuel he’s looking like crap defensively.
Rex – Spot on to me with just about everything you said. I will add that Newman is not making much and he can not only solid D, but he is also good at a number of positions. Washington likes D, This brings me to Anderson, who Wash has gotten back to where I think he is the best defensive player on the team. I am not so sure about Moancada’s glovework. He has looked good at times, but has looked bad in clutch times. His bad defense twice with men on 2nd and 3rd and 2 outs cost 4 runs in a 1 run loss. He also did this in bad form and moved his body out of the path of the ball. This was not hit overly hard and I am sure Wash took note.
Kellin – I think the release of Crouse. was that got hurt and another team might not want to add someone like that to the 40 man roster. If that is the case the Angels could resign him to a minor league deal and have him off the 40 man roster.
@tim. Yeah that’s why I think Lopez is on his way out. He’s a glove first player that looked bad so far. Probably because he hasn’t played very much, but Anderson has done enough to stick around he atleast fits Washington style if he can’t hit he does enough small things to stick around. Yeah Washington said something about moancada. He said it was bad form when you leave your feet your glove goes up and he needed to plant his feet to keep the glove down. Moancada has looked good before his injury so who knows if that was part of the problem but it’s also a finger injury so probably not.
@tim Stewart. Crouse is out for season, but he’s mad they didn’t protect him. I don’t see why they didn’t cut Lopez and put him on the IL or even cut dashwood earlier. It’s grasping at straws but now he’s definitely not coming back when he’s healthy next year to save guys that aren’t in the plans and on the way out. Crouse brought up his era in the majors and high strikeout rate in the minors and said he was disappointed they released him, and told him about how he was out for the year after
Rex – If Crouse passes thru the Angels try to resign him right after that he could then use the Angels staff and medical personnel for his injury. There is risk but you can’t load up your 40 man and this really is the best time to do this because other teams will see this as a riskier clame for a player that will take up a roster spot for over a year.
@tim Stewart. Yeah it but it seems like it pissed him off. They told him he torn his lat three hours after he was released. They could’ve stuck him on the IL but arte probably didn’t want to pay for his rehab. We had room to make the move. Sounds like he’s a future padre or dodger since he’s from the area.
Rex – Crouse is still not a sure thing and he would have to come off the IL sometime and will need that space as they like to promote guys and every player that gets to the majors needs a roster spot that he keeps when is sent down. That roster spot is hard to keep for someone like him. The timing helps the Angels keep him because other teams are in the same boat, except they have less Idea about his injury. I think in the short amount of time the process will take and if try to sign him at that time, he might be more agreeable. The Angels, knowing the facts better than anyone may pass. This all may have very little to do with his pay.
@tim Stewart. I would’ve gamble. Sounds like he’s ticked off now, and going to sign elsewhere. I agree he isn’t a sure bet, but so is most of the bullpen because they all had small sample sizes, besides kenley. I think his performance in spring training was injury related. He would be a nice piece next year with kenley being a free agent. They probably have guys they need to protect next year. So like I said grasping at straws. I just like crouse and feel like there was room to sneak him in.
Crouse got released, not DFAd. He’s very much not happy with the Angels and won’t be coming back. The whole thing looks bad on the Angels front office. I really can’t understand why they did that, considering he pitched well for the team last year, and as far as I’m aware of was doing well in the minors. Weird DFA decisions.
Crouse may be unhappy, but a flyball pitcher who can’t throw strikes needs to have an exceptional KRate survive.
@kellin. I’m guessing it’s came down to paying for his rehab, maybe they feel like he wouldn’t have a spot next year. But yeah that’s why I said arte like trading prospects for goilito and Lopez and putting the whole team on waivers two weeks later.
@halos11fan. He had the most strikeouts in the minors. Hopefully there’s a another guy in the minors ready to breakout next year. I just don’t see the reasoning behind it. Especially since kenley is a free agent.
The Angels bullpen ERA is 27th. I bring this up for one reason. I couldn’t care less. I never evaluate a bullpen based on ERA.
When I criticized the pen, and people brought ERA, I told them it’s a bad way to evaluate a pen using ERA. Who cares what the pen’s ERA is when the outcome of the game is not in the balance? I don’t.
This is a good pen. It’s been an important part of this team’s start. . It’s not blowing games.
This isn’t the pen of the last half dozen years, Stephenson coming back in June and health of the others is more than enough.
@halos11fan. Crouse brought up his era, and leading the minors in strikeouts. You were alluding that he’s doesn’t strikeout enough. Just saying he does. I get it’s just a sample size I just don’t get why they did what they did. I forgot they had Stephenson.
All I said is he needed an exceptional KRate. I never said he didn’t have one.
There is very little wiggle room for flyball relievers with poor command. There is some, just not a lot.
@halo11fan. Gotcha. I just don’t get why we kept saurez for so long because of his untapped potential hehe, and were quick to dump crouse. They should have more relievers ready next year so maybe that was the thinking behind it. Just sounds like he was looking forward to playing with the halos next year. I definitely would rather him over a waiver wire pickup.
I seldom understand why this organization does things the way it does.
I couldn’t believe Moncada got $5mil guaranteed. This guy is cooked and has been cooked
@spooky Cobb got 15 after 4 starts. I’ll take moancada for 5 Alex.
“Cobb got 15..moncada for 5″…As far as I’ve heard, Cobb doesn’t have the reputation of quitting on his team or being a malingerer, despite his extensive injury history.
@mlbfan. Ok so they both get hurt. Moancada is 10 million less. Angels are under the first tax so the price doesn’t matter. He’s going to be a backup with how Paris is playing so it doesn’t matter to pay 5 million for a decent but limited third baseman ( injured) because they don’t need him full-time.
Two completely different contracts, situations, teams and players but sure, go ahead and tie them together with the use of a dead gameshow host
@spooky go ahead and try to say the angels suck. Moancada on the IL isn’t a big deal is my point. Spooky troll
Angels need to move to Tampa Bay. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim currently playing in Tampa has a nice ring to it. They will hit at least 400 HR in that stadium.
That stadium is a joke. I’m glad to be out.
That didnt take long. Over-Under on games played by Moncada this season? 81?
🥱 Moncada – true to form collecting his $$ from the training table.
Anthony Rendone observes and nods.
Under
I will take the under on 81 games played
Who cares anyway
Exactly doesn’t matter rengifo is the third baseman. Paris at second base, newman and Anderson split shortstop until neto comes back.
Moncado is a piece of crap!!!! 💩
Are you the crap emoji or is it Moncada? Or is it both of you mixed together?
The sad thing about Moncada is when he is motivated he shows that he can hit and also play well at third…. Its just that first part.
Injuries happen, but they happen less when you put the work in to ensure your body is right and you play the game correctly to not get these silly injuries that he does.
The guy had two 5 for 5 games a couple of seasons ago, he has the talent, but not the want.
Jack Dashwood admittedly deserved to be DFA’d based on performance, but man what a cool name.
Def a great name. And it works in all incarnations. Dash Jackwood. Woody Jackdash.
He will have more HRs than Rendon by All-star game. – for millions less
Datashark, as a fun aside, you and I will tie Rendon in HRs over the ’24 and ’25 seasons at no cost to the Halos.
we need to sue the Angels for providing same output as Rendon.
Like the swallows returning to Capistrano, Yoan Moncada returns to his home of the injured list.
Remember the 02 angels. Look at what’s happening. 4 homers in one inning. What? Look again. Angels are historically slow in April, and 4 series wins in a row, in April. They happy to be out of devils stadium in Tempe.
They happy Perry got great help. Adell batting 9th. Wow
I have shared this before, however I will again. Last year before the season started, I had two dreams. The first dream was remember the titans. The 2nd dream was that a rookie will hit two two run homers in one game.
When the rookie hits the two, you will know that the dream, remember the titans (where Denzel Washington unites the team, and they win it all) will happen this year. The angels are getting strikes called balls this year. The umpires will ensure this 90 win season. You already are watching it happen.
Sorry, which rookie are you referring to? Neither Adell nor Paris are rookies, they both exceeded their limits last year or earlier.
@kellin. Maybe his dream is about moore hitting two homeruns. The prophecy of Denzel Washington hasn’t happened yet.
I like the start they are off to, but I wouldn’t be too excited yet. I don’t even look at it until we are at least 40 games in.
I think the Angels brought in some great mentors for the young core. Anderson, Hendricks, Jansen, and D’Arnaud all seem to be impacting the young core in a positive manner. They have all had success at one point and they Angels haven’t had a lot of these guys around. I think Anderson will be perfect for Neto to learn from. When I think of who Neto reminds me of, I would say a young Tim Anderson.
@googleme. Yeah Hendricks and Tyler Anderson have me nervous or atleast I’m ready for some clunkers. I will admit you can see a culture change. Like how they have a seasoned vet in every position to help the younger players out. I didn’t know how tim Anderson would be in the clubhouse. He definitely doesn’t have many friends. That’s probably because he’s a old school guy, hard slide to knock the ball out type of player, and it rubs people the wrong way, but that’s definitely a Washington player. Playing time is going to get tight for him once neto gets back. Moancada, newman, and Anderson might be down to one game a week. Maybe Moancada gives schanuel a break at 1st.
@Rex I have been shocked by Hendricks. Two times through the rotation and he has been their best starter. I agree that there will be days ahead where he gets knocked around. I thought he was already done and he would come out the gate looking like Matt Harvey.
I have no idea why the Angels made the rotation with Soriano and Kochanowicz back to back and then two soft tossers like Anderson and Hendricks back to back. Why would you put 2 sinker ballers in row? Seems like they should alternate the sinker ballers and the soft tossers rather than going with two similar pitchers back to back.
@googleme. Yeah they needed to split it up, and it almost caught Hendricks luckily d’arnaud went to the mound and changed things up. Luckily Hendricks has a good pitch mix i think he went to the changeup
Goggle, completely agree with everything.
I think it’s pretty clear to me that the reason they have been throwing the same type of pitchers back-to-back is because those teams have bad numbers against that type of pitchers, or they have good career stats against that team. It really has worked out well that they have been able set it up so good this far. I have heard more than one of the other team’s fans complain about facing them. Cardinal fans were complaining about how they knew they would probably have to face Hendricks before the season even started. Hendricks
Just Dingers Davis is back.
This approach underscores the importance of organizational depth and the ability to adapt quickly to player injuries, ensuring that team performance remains consistent throughout the season.
#GiveNetoAChance
Wasn’t Dash Jackwood in some kind of movies?
There shouldn’t be commas around “notably” when it’s used in that context.