The Angels announced three moves this afternoon, including Jose Fermin’s placement (retroactive to May 15) on the 15-day injured list due to an impingement in his right elbow. Los Angeles selected Hunter Strickland’s contract from Triple-A, and also designated infielder Ryan Noda for assignment to open up a spot on the 40-man roster.
Noda, 29, ends his tenure with the Angels without making an appearance with the big league club. The infielder was plucked out of the Dodgers organization by the Athletics in the Rule 5 draft prior to the 2023 season. Noda made that pick look like a brilliant move during his first season in Oakland, hitting .229/.364/.406 with 16 homers, 22 doubles, and a 122 wRC+ while serving as the A’s primary first baseman that year. With that being said, a 34.3% strikeout rate raised real long-term concerns even as he was producing at an above-average clip.
Given that, it was hardly a surprise when he struggled badly in his sophomore season as a major leaguer. Noda’s age-28 campaign saw him hit just .137/.255/.211 (44 wRC+) in 111 trips to the plate as he spent most of the season at Triple-A. Following the 2024 season, the A’s placed him on waivers and he found himself claimed by the Angels off waivers. With that being said, Noda did not make the club out of Spring Training and has failed to hit even at the Triple-A level with a .148/.364/.270 slash line in 38 games for the club’s affiliate. That was evidently enough for the Angels to feel comfortable pulling the plug on Noda, and they’ll now have one week to either work out a trade involving the infielder or try to pass him through waivers.
Noda’s departure creates room on the roster for Strickland, a veteran of ten MLB seasons already who made his big league debut with the Giants all the way back in 2014. Strickland was a solid late-inning relief arm early in his career with San Francisco, pitching to a 2.91 ERA and 3.40 FIP while racking up 19 saves in parts of five seasons. Things have been up and down in the years since then, however, with a 4.18 ERA and 4.73 FIP from 2019 to 2022 including a 2021 season where he pitched to a strong 2.61 ERA despite bouncing between three different teams over the course of the season. Last year, Strickland was a largely adequate middle reliever for the Angels with a 3.31 ERA in 73 1/3 innings of work despite a 4.45 FIP. He signed with the Rangers organization on a minor league deal over the winter but returned to the Angels earlier this month and will now get a shot in the club’s bullpen once again in 2025. In doing so, he’ll replace Fermin, a 23-year-old rookie with 7 2/3 innings of 5.87 ERA ball to his name in the majors so far.
Yawn. If a team makes roster moves but nobody cares, do they actually count?
They do count because there’s other people who care. You obviously aren’t the only baseball fan in the world, Blue Baron.
Steinbrenner2728: Wow really? I think I never would have known that if you hadn’t pointed it out, Captain Obvious.
Google sarcasm and grow your vocabulary, lol.
Maybe you should suggest googling irony? Sarcasm is the mocking side of irony. If you weren’t being angry, chances are you were being ironic. Irony is funny, sarcasm blows.
yourdictionary.com/articles/irony-sarcasm-differen…
Bart: I have no idea who’s angry, certainly not myself, but my point was made and either term applies.
Irony is funny, sarcasm blows.
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I have found sarcasm to be an extremely useful teaching tool. If you correct an obvious mistake, it can blown off. If you combine it with sarcasm, it will likely be remembered.
It shouldn’t be overbearing, but it is a bit like strategic anger.
Google sarcasm
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As the Fonz once said “I don’t waste my sarcasm on nerds’. No reason to beat on the Angels any more.
If your mom yawns in these nuts, does anyone care?
No need to be a d¡ck.
bruinlife33: Must be talking about your mom. Mine is dead.
As is mine.
I care. So you are saying there are no Angels fans? I would probably yawn at your team.
Another one who doesn’t know the meaning of sarcasm.
So I googled it: People who think they are sarcastic often believe it sets them apart from others and showcases their intelligence. However, this perception can be misleading. According to experts, sarcasm can be a subtle form of bullying, often stemming from underlying hostility, insecurity, or a need to feel superior.
Ask Padres and Giants fans if the Angels are relevant. (See last 3 games).
We all care as they just went into Dodger stadium and swept them.
Three games out of 162. It won’t keep the Dodgers out of postseason contention.
Im not an Angels fan but I care. I like seeing what all teams are doing no matter how small.
“Largely adequate” is the best the Angels can do for their bullpen
I expect Noda to clear waivers but then be signed to a minor league contract and head to AAA. Because he was a rule 5 player he might not have received as much minor league preparation that a young player needs to succeed. I could see a team sign him and then sent him down to high A and let them see if they can reduce the strikeouts and improve production. Those 16 Homer’s in 2023 show he has power and thus there is potential. A work in progress for him.
he’s 28. high a is largely for kids with a future. Korea is probably a better fit. maybe Mexican leagues. if he rakes can still potentially find his way back to the show
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Words from a distant place and time, but relevant for all anti royal blue factions (more numerous than ever). Nice work over the weekend!