The Angels have traded right-hander Víctor Mederos to the Braves in exchange for international bonus pool space, according to announcements from both clubs. The righty was designated for assignment a few days ago when the Angels added Shaun Anderson to their roster. Francys Romero of BeisbolFR says the pool space changing hands is $250K. By rule, pool space can only be traded in $250K increments. Atlanta transferred righty AJ Smith-Shawver to the 60-day injured list to open a 40-man spot. Mederos was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Mederos, 25 in June, has a small and unimpressive major league track record to this point. He has tossed 25 1/3 innings over the previous three seasons with an 8.53 earned run average. Atlanta is presumably more interested in his minor league work. Last year, he made 16 starts at the Triple-A level, posting a 3.39 ERA in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He got some help from a 78.4% strand rate and only struck out 18.6% of batters faced but he features mid-90s velocity and a five-pitch mix.
The Halos nudged him off the roster but found enough interest on the trade block to net some international pool space in return. Atlanta gave up that pool space because they could use some extra pitching depth. In the past few weeks, they have lost Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep, Joey Wentz and Spencer Strider to injuries.
They currently have a rotation featuring Chris Sale, Reynaldo López, Grant Holmes, Bryce Elder and Martín Pérez. Sale has a lengthy injury history and is now 37 years old. López only made one start last year due to shoulder surgery. Holmes was diagnosed with a partial tear of his ulnar collateral ligament last year and is healthy now but it wouldn’t be a shock for that injury to flare up again. Elder had a 5.30 ERA last year. Pérez is a soft-tossing veteran.
Atlanta does have Didier Fuentes and JR Ritchie in Triple-A but those two are fairly lacking in experience. Ritchie still hasn’t cracked the majors. Fuentes has made it to the show but has allowed 21 earned runs in 17 innings. Mederos will give them some extra Triple-A depth and could be called up to the big leagues at some point, if needed.
As for Smith-Shawver, his transfer to the 60-day IL was inevitable. He underwent Tommy John surgery in June of last year. He could return at some point in 2026 but presumably not until after the All-Star break.
Photo courtesy of Jonathan Hui, Imagn Images
Why? Terrible numbers.
Probably because this isn’t Stratomatic
Oh gee, I don’t know. Maybe because someone has to pitch at Gwinnett?
Dude walks nearly a hitter an inning and then factor in hits, amazing WHIP.
1. how do we have IFA $ to spare if we’re signing Sena next period
2. why spend it on this guy?
The Angels don’t even have guys to trade worthy of a decent player in return.
@prov356. 250k international money is probably another mederos to be fair.
Mederos was drafted
@cookmeister. Never said he wasn’t. Just said the 250k could get another mederos which means probably another pitcher that cant make the team.
It’s crazy to think that Perry Minasian is willing to lose Victor Mederos for Shaun Anderson, who was absolute trash last season.
Mederos may turn out to be nothing more than a AAAA pitcher, but certainly not worth losing for Anderson.
@orange2001. Yeah it probably wont matter either way hopefully the international money is spent on someone better, but I have a feeling Anderson will be released in a couple days. Would’ve made more to callup Strickland
we’re arguing about losing poop to keep diarrhea
Mederos had a good season at triple-A last season in a hitter’s league and the organization valued him enough to protect him from the rule 5 draft by keeping him on the 40-man roster… that is until they needed to call up Shaun Anderson (who would be in independent ball if not for Perry).
And yes, Mederos may turn out to be crap in the long run. But pointless losing him now when he should be starting games in triple-A and serving as organizational depth instead. Just another example of Perry being clueless.
He is clueless. Has been from day one. I’m shocked. Usually he is getting garbage from Atlanta not giving garbage away
Mederos has spin and velocity but no command. Perhaps getting in a better developmental organization will help him.