The Angels have sent outfielder Brett Phillips outright to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees, per his transactions tracker at MLB.com. That indicates he passed through waivers unclaimed after the club designated him for assignment on the weekend.
Phillips, turning 29 next week, was signed this winter to a one-year, $1.2MM deal. He has long been a light-hitting outfielder with value off the bench as a speed-and-defense specialist. The Halos used him in that vein, putting him into 20 contests but sending him to the plate just 16 times. Though he stole three bases and provided his customarily strong glovework, he hit just .077/.250/.077 in those trips to the plate, a drop-off from even his own standards.
For his career, he’s hit .187/.272/.343 in 916 plate appearances dating back to 2017. That amounts to a wRC+ of 70, or 30% below league average. That’s a level that teams have been able to live with given his other traits, as he’s stolen 39 bases and been given excellent grades from all advanced defensive metrics. He has career tallies of 43 Defensive Runs Saved, 34 Outs Above Average and a score of 27.0 from Ultimate Zone Rating.
The Halos went into the season with a regular outfield of Mike Trout, Hunter Renfroe and Taylor Ward with Phillips in the fourth outfield role. However, his downturn at the plate coincided with the rise of Mickey Moniak, who hit well in the minors and was recalled a few weeks ago, producing a scorching hot .419/.438/.935 batting line in his 32 plate appearances so far.
Each of the 29 other teams had a chance to grab Phillips off waivers but all declined. He has over three years of major league service time, which technically gives him the right to reject this outright assignment and elect free agency. However, he lacks the five years of service necessary to both reject and retain his salary. Since all the clubs in the league already passed on him at that modest $1.2MM price point, it’s likely that he’ll simply forgo the open market and report to Salt Lake.
Ok.
Is this the dude who was pretending he was an airplane and cruising around the bases with his arms outstretched in a Tampa Bay postseason game?? Or was that Mike Broussau?? I get those two mixed up.
He had that World Series walk-off hit.
It was him.
He’s a riot and a seemingly great clubhouse presence. But you can’t bring that whimpy of a bat to the Bigs. I wish him well, he’s an easy guy to root for. I think after this season, some overseas work might be beneficial to helping him continue his career.
Brosseau is Chapman’s daddy. Phillips pretended to be a plane.
How Arron Loup still has a roster spot is beyond me? This guy couldn’t get his mother out!
Really small sample size, but it’s kind of impressive to have a .250 OBP when you’re batting well below .100.
At one point he had .000 BA and a .750 OBP, because he kept walking in his first handful of plate appearances.
Dude will be the best minor leaguer ever, signing tons of autographs, taking pictures, and talking to kids.
Should’ve been signed to a minors deal to do it, though.
The MICKEY MONIAK era has arrived……
Do you really think Moniak will remain hot. He has a 35 percent strikeout rate. 11 strikeouts an 1 walk.
Even though we are enjoying the ride, this has zero chance to continue,
Go look at his splits. Most of the problem is LHP.
I wish it would. As a phillies fan, I always root for former prospects. Even though Moniak was picked number one in a weak draft, for signing money purposes, he would still have been a top 7-8 pick.
With the Phils, they promoted him every year as one of the younger players at each level imo he was never given a his real MLB shot in Philly….
For all the grief he has gotten, he’s still only 25. Will he ever live up to 1/1, probably not…
But can he be an above average mlb of’er – watching his swing – definitely..
Moniak.
Michael Sembello’s favorite player.
On the ice-blue line of insanity is a place most never see
It’s a hard-won place of mystery touch it, but can’t hold it
You work all your life for that
Moment in time, it could come or pass you by
It’s a push-shove world, but there’s always a chance
If the hunger stays the night
Here’s hoping Moniak stays hungry…..
Just be happy Halo11 on Micky, of course this ungodly start won’t maintain, but he looks like he just might of turned the corner with being a solid MLB OF. We like!
One of, if not THE, nicest players in Professional Baseball. Wish him the best!
Now Loup and Rengifo. Loup can’t pitch one inning without allowing a run. And rengifo couldn’t hit slow pitch softball at this point. It would be cool to see Loup pitch to Rengifo to see which of the two stinks more at their craft.