The Angels announced a series of roster moves Monday, reinstating catcher Max Stassi and right-hander Archie Bradley from the injured list. In order to open roster space for the returning veterans, the Halos optioned catcher Chad Wallach and lefty Jose Suarez to Triple-A Salt Lake. Infielder Jose Rojas, meanwhile, was designated for assignment. A 40-man move was necessary due to the fact that Stassi had been on the Covid-19-related injured list and was thus not counting against the 40-man roster.
Rojas, 29, has seen Major League time at second base, third base, first base and in both outfield corners. He’s a .199/.261./.377 hitter through 207 plate appearances in that time but does possess a much more appealing track record in Triple-A, where he’s logged a .274/.340/.496 slash in 950 trips to the plate. Rojas swatted 31 home runs with Triple-A Salt Lake back in 2019, although that came during a season when the baseball is widely believed to have been juiced both in the Majors and in Triple-A.
A former 36th-round pick, Rojas still has a pair of minor league options remaining, meaning any club that picks him up via waiver claim or a small trade will be able to shuttle him back and forth between Triple-A and the big leagues as some additional outfield/infield depth both this season and next. The Angels will have seven days to trade Rojas, attempt to pass him through outright waivers or release him.
Angels probably getting ready to claim Thornburg.
Rojas is a fun story as he’s a local guy who paid his dues in the minors. But he’s not an impact MLB player.
I’m willing to bet he clears waivers and goes back to Salt Lake.
There’s something winsome about his +1 OPS+.
I’d like to see that.
I would love for a team like Baltimore to hand him third base for the year. He could probably give them a Danny Valencia type season
Why would the Orioles hand Rojas 3B when Urias and Nevin are out hitting him?
Victor no like…
When Tatis Jr comes back how do Angel fans feel about a Kim for Adell trade?
Kim is low key projecting close to a 5WAR type season if he continues to get reg playing time ..however with Tatis back that time could disappear…
Adell has no place to play in Anaheim.. has fallen from grace and a change of scene and regular ABs could be all he needs… Grisham is certainly not doing it (20th ranked CFer out of 20 who qualify) so a move that benefits Both teams..as LAA 2B/SS situation is pretty bad as well…
You’re crazy.
Ego? It’s his life, he wanted to play shortstop. Do you think playing shortstop was not included in the negotiations. Morally, the Padre could play him anywhere they wanted, but once they signed him long term, morally they need to keep him where he wants to play.
Mike Trout plays CF, as long as Mike Trout wants to play CF, he’s going to play CF. Are you making the same comment about him?
Trout SHOULD be in right and DH … not because he’s bad defensively or can’t play center…. Because he’s too valuable at the plate to have him also carrying the OF…. Relax in Right and think about the next AB… Like Betts
SDP need Tatis in the OF, and should keep the better glove, Kim, at SS. Won’t happen because of Tatis’ ego. Its all about him, not the team.
True dat. Tatis has a enormous ego. I wouldn’t want him on the Angels.
Hard pass. Adell has more control, costs less, and has more upside.
For a more objective perspective, the trade simulator gives Adell a value of 11 and Kim a negative 4. Not saying they are gospel, but an impartial view agrees the two are of far different value.
Same control. Both are free agents in 2027.
Yes Adell costs less
More upside for Adell is debatable.
Adell is only 23. Waaaaaay too soon to give up on him. Trout went something like 1 for 50 when he first came up. Not saying he’s another Trout. But We’ve been hearing about Adell for so long some of you must think he’s 26 or 27.
I think it is time to think about trading Adell, but i don’t think Kim is a big enough carrot to dangle. . Kim’s WAR is slightly less than Velazquez’s, so really not an upgrade.
There is really no position for Adell any longer with the Angels. Ward is everything Angel fans imagined Adell could be and then some. I know it is only a quarter of the season, but Ward’s patience and unwillingness to chase are remarkable. The Angel fans have the Adell version they always wanted just his name is Taylor Ward. It is time to let go of what might be and look for trades that make this team better. . .
I’ve said that before too MAF. We have holes to fill now that Adell can’t fill. We should see what he can bring us in a trade to fill those holes. It’s not like he’s a good defender and just needs some tweaks. He looks lost in the field like he’s new to the sport. I haven’t kept tabs on him in AAA so I don’t know what improvements he’s made if any. I don’t know if he’s still striking out a bunch.
I’m fine keeping him too but at some point his value will diminish if he can’t make the improvements necessary to be a big league player. I think a trade is something to at least explore.
It was ridiculous Adell was platooning with guy. It was especially ridiculous with Adell’s reverse splits.
That said, Rojas is a good guy and you hate to see anyone cut. However, if no one claims him, I would like him to remain an Angel, just not on the 40 man roster.
only reason they platooned though was that Ward was out the first handful of games. The reverse splits thing is legit though and drives me crazy (especially Duffy vs walsh)
I like Rojas, cool local kid story, just not an impact kind of guy. Had some nice moments and all
Adell deserves to be in the minor leagues, but he also deserved to play everyday until Ward got here.
Ward has been tremendous. I can’t believe he’s this good, but he is.
Hope we can hold onto Jose. He plays with heart and hustle. And he can play several positions. He’s better than other players we have called up over the last few years. Kinda like Ward’s journey…no real set position or consistent bat but Taylor seems to have figured it out so far this season.
I was at the game yesterday in RF and I can definitely say that Tyler Wade (not to be confused with Taylor Ward) does not belong in RF in a major league game. Nor does Matt Duffy belong in the cleanup spot hitting .229/.302/.250 with zero bombs.
The knock on the Angels has been lack of depth this season and we’re seeing it. If you’re going to get rid of Justin Upton, you must have better OF backup options than Tyler Wade and better platoon mates at 1B than Matt Duffy.
It’s Maddon thinking he’s the smartest man in the room.. No one but Maddon does these absurd things.
Not sure why you think Upton would have provided that depth? He cannot play right field at all defensively, and was rated at the very bottom in left. Now on the offensive side he has declined steadily over the past three years and was striking out a lot. Now to injuries– he’s been injured repeatedly and can’t stay on the field. This is not the younger and productive Upton. The team record is proof that letting Pujols and Upton go was prudent. The team needs another bat to lengthen the lineup. Adding Boagaerts from Boston would impact the offense in a huge way.
Upton was never the answer. He hurt the team in every way. Losing him was the best move Perry has made. I’ve never understood the hype over him and I surely don’t understand why some people think we should have kept him. They were watching a different Upton. He stinks.
It takes a solid 40 man roster – Dodgers, Rays, etc – to navigate 162 game seasons and compete for playoff spots year in and year out. The Angels roster, while greatly improved over years past, is still a year or two away from being really deep. I have no doubt, Perry has a plan to get there. That said, the Angels have the pieces to compete this year provided decent health and a reinforcement or two at the trade deadline.
Trout at DH is impossible. Mr. Ohtani has that role locked down, I’d say.
Adell for an arm.
This is actually a good sign that the organization has gained more depth. The possibility of losing Rojas is a good problem to have. You should lose good players from time to time if you are deep with talent.
Except he’s not a good player.
The point is that not too long ago Rojas was a legitimate candidate to be an everyday player— now he’s strictly depth and not even that. Canning was the best up and coming starter and now he’s just depth, and possibly even a surplus trade candidate once he’s healthy.
It’s 11 thinking he’s the smartest person in the room. No one but 11 thinks these absurd things.
Rojas is a decent player that is unfortunately (or fortunately) a casualty of the depth on the Angels roster.
Rojas is a good AAA player, he’s not really that good in the MLB. Below replacement level type.
I hope he gets a chance to latch on with a non contender so that he can get more playing time. He has the chance to develop into an excellent MLB hitter