The Angels announced that they have selected the contracts of right-handers Héctor Neris and Connor Brogdon. Infielder Yoán Moncada was also reinstated from the 10-day injured list. In corresponding moves, right-hander Michael Darrell-Hicks and infielder Niko Kavadas have been optioned to Triple-A, while righty Touki Toussaint has been designated for assignment. The club had one open 40-man vacancy coming into today.
The Angels have been busy swapping in fresh arms to their bullpen lately. After some heavy bullpen usage on Thursday and Friday, Toussaint and Darrell-Hicks were called up on Saturday. On Sunday, the club got torched, losing 13-1 to the Tigers. Both pitchers took on some mop-up duty and have been swapped out for more fresh arms today.
Neris, 36 next month, just signed a minor league deal with the club a couple of months ago. He started the season on a minor league deal with Atlanta and made the Opening Day roster but was bumped off after two bad appearances. He elected free agency and landed a new deal with the Halos. He has since made four Triple-A appearances, allowing two earned runs with eight strikeouts and one walk.
The righty has a lengthy track record of major league success but has been more wobbly in recent years. In 2021, he had a 31.6% strikeout rate but that dropped to 30%, 28.2% and 24.6% in subsequent seasons. He was able to work around that with a 1.17 ERA in 2023 but that jumped to 4.10 last year, which likely led to him settling for a minor league deal with Atlanta coming into 2025.
Brogdon, 30, signed a minor league deal with the Halos in January. He has thrown 14 2/3 Triple-A innings this year, allowing 21 earned runs for an eye-popping 12.89 ERA. His 25.3% strikeout rate is actually pretty good and his 9.6% walk rate passable but he has allowed six home runs already in that span.
He was a solid major leaguer as of a few years ago but has been struggling more recently. He tossed 113 innings for the Phillies over the 2020 to 2022 seasons with a 3.42 ERA, 25.1% strikeout rate and 7.3% walk rate. But in 2023, his ERA jumped to 4.03, with a 20.5% strikeout rate and 10.2% walk rate. Last year was mostly lost due to injuries, with plantar fasciitis being the main culprit. The Angels presumably hoped to get him back on track but the Triple-A results so far this year have been mixed, to say the least.
As mentioned earlier, Toussaint gets bumped off the roster just a few days after being added. He tossed two innings in his lone appearance, allowing two earned runs on four hits and a walk while striking out three.
He should be placed on waivers in the coming days. Once a notable prospect, he has never been able to rein in his control enough to find success. In 282 1/3 major league innings, he has a 5.42 ERA, 23.1% strikeout rate and 47.6% ground ball rate but a big 14.1% walk rate.
Photo courtesy of Denis Poroy, Imagn Images
The most surprising thing I learned from this in checking their stat pages….How the heck is Touki Toussaint just still 28 years old??!?!?
Wasn’t he signed as an IFA at like 16 by the Dbacks?
Born in Florida. First round draft pick when he was 16, actually signed his contract on his 17th birthday. Traded to the Braves on his 18th birthday.
Had no idea he was born in Florida, at least I was right about the age tho haha
Angels’ Motto:
“If you can’t have good arms, you might as well have fresh arms”
The thing is there is little excuse to have such a bad pen with few options. They spend money just not on the right guys. There are so many decent relievers who don’t get big league deals. I think if Neris is given a longer look he would be fine. Braves started 0-7 and taxed pen. Couldn’t afford to be giving him a long look. But the stuff looked decent.
These moves oughta do it.
@prov356. Got rid of three turds for two turds and a moancada. I guess it’s a win.
Mathematically I suppose.
@prov356. Atleast neris looked good today. When Joyce and Stephenson come back the bullpen should be alright, and they just signed Strickland to a minor league deal.
Angels love their ex-Phillies.
@cheapseater. They’ve picked up guys from all teams. Literally pick up someone gets blown up, and go to the next rinse and repeat the same cycle. Arte is a equal opportunity employer keeping washed up players in the league for a inning at a time.
Yes, they’re getting the old band back together!
The Angels are an unmitigated disgrace to the game of baseball.
That’s 7 in a row. World Series baby! Take that you disgrace of a human being.
The team should really put a golden ticket in one or two game programs each night. if you pull the golden ticket, suit on up and head to the bullpen.
It would drive ticket sales and have basically no impact on the on field product.
Angels motto
Why spend money developing players when you can dumpster dive
Hopefully Moncada can stay healthy at least for half the season. Neris at his 2024 numbers will be an improvement. Don’t know much about Brogdon other than he was decent until 2024. If he puts up his career numbers he is a definite upgrade. If not he gets DFA’d.
Brogdon might be interesting.
He got hammered in spring training and at the beginning of the season, but has, over the last 2 weeks, struck out an eye popping 14 batters out of 28 he’s faced.
Thank God! We’re saved!
The offseason that Ohtani departed the Angels, Anaheim declared the bullpen as their top priority. The largest contract given then was $33 million, 3-years to Robert Stephenson and he still has not made his Angels debut.
I thought Minasian made decent moves with his multiple trades with Philadelphia. One day they’ll be owned, operated and managed by competent people with vision.
Neris “The Siren” is back in town!
Did Samy Natera insult Miniasan? Call the Lefty up as your pen stinks anyway.
Good Lord