the Angels and Braves have struck another trade. The move came after the Angels added Chuckie Robinson from the White Sox to their 40-man roster, which pushed their roster count to 41 players. To make room, they designated starting pitcher for assignment. The Braves were interested in him and were so keen that they traded a legitimate prospect rather than just offering cash or claiming him outright. As part of the deal, left-handed pitcher Mitch Farris will join the Angels’ system.”
The decision to DFA Davis Daniel is a bit of a surprise. It’s always somewhat confusing when a team designates a pitcher for assignment to make room for a position player. Additionally, Daniel was a reliable option for the Angels last season. While his traditional stats might not stand out, he was able to eat innings, hit his spots (his Location+ was the best among Angels pitchers), and compete at a high level. Plus, he was still recovering from a shoulder injury that lingered into 2023. The 27-year-old had an option remaining and was expected to be fully recovered next season. Being from Atlanta, Daniel will likely be excited to join his hometown team.
The Angels clearly value Chuckie Robinson for his intangibles, particularly his pitch-calling, framing, and ability to manage the pitching staff. He should fit in well with the coaching staff and other catchers like Sal Fasano, Travis d’Arnaud, Jerry Narron, and Ron Washington during Spring Training. The team chose to prioritize adding a third catcher over keeping Daniel, who could have been a solid long relief option coming out of Spring Training. So, with that in mind, how does the bullpen look heading into the season?
There are still plenty of free-agent relievers available, and Perry Minasian has time to make trades—likely with Atlanta—to strengthen the bullpen. But as of now, that’s the current state of the unit. One wild card is Garrett McDaniels, who would need to be offered back to the Dodgers if he doesn’t make the active roster. McDaniels could potentially replace Crouse, Silseth, or Bachman, all of whom still have Minor League options. While McDaniels lacks big league experience, neither does Bachman have much to show in that regard. The Angels might prefer to keep McDaniels as an asset and have Bachman prove he deserves a roster spot for next season.
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