The Angels have selected the contract of right-hander Kelvin Caceres, per a team announcement. In corresponding moves, left-hander Aaron Loup has been transferred to the 60-day IL while right-hander Jose Marte was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake.
Caceres, 23, began the 2023 campaign at High-A before quickly advancing to Double-A and then Triple-A by the end of the season. Across all three levels, Caceres owns a 4.12 ERA in 54 2/3 innings of work. Since being promoted to Triple-A, however, Caceres has been nothing short of dominant with a 0.90 ERA and a 27.5% strikeout rate despite a 12.5% walk rate in ten innings of work. That small-sample success is particularly impressive given the extreme offensive environment of the Pacific Coast League, where the Angels’ Triple-A affiliate plays. Caceres will look to get into one of the last few games of the regular season for his major league debut as the Angels look to cover innings ahead of the offseason.
Making room for Caceres on the 40-man roster, is Loup, which is little more than a procedural move. After all, Loup’s 2023 campaign was already expected to come to a close after his placement on the injured list earlier this month with a shoulder strain. The 35-year-old veteran struggled through a difficult season in 2023 as he posted a 6.10 ERA across 55 appearances, albeit with a more palatable 4.37 FIP. The Angels hold a $7.5MM club option on Loup’s services in 2024, but given his downturn in performance it seems more likely the club will opt for a $2MM buyout on the option, allowing Loup to test the open market this offseason.
Meanwhile, the Angels optioned Marte to make room for Caceres on the active roster. The 27-year-old righty has consistently struggled at the big league level in brief cups of coffee over the past three seasons, with a combined 8.14 ERA and 7.62 FIP in 24 1/3 innings of work in the majors. His work at the Triple-A level, while certainly an improvement, also leaves something to be desired; he’s posted a 5.83 ERA in 46 1/3 innings of work at the highest level of the minor leagues during his career.
Was really hoping to move up another spot in the lottery and Loup was our best chance to do it.
Hey don’t give up. The new guy may be just as effective
This is the move we’ve been waiting for. We just need MLB to extend the season by about 20 games.
Saw Caceres in the DOSL back in 2018. Didn’t think he had the stuff or the build to make it to the majors. I was wrong. After years of struggling, he finally put it all together this season. All the best Kelvin. Hope you can continue to prove me and others wrong.
No way Jose!
1.545 WHIP at AA.
14.2 SO/9
But, hey, what about that TEN whole innings at AAA? Gotta get your priorities straight.
If I had a dollar for every *small sample size” describing an Angel player. Which Angel doesn’t have a small sample this year? Or how about”I’m not worried” I remember Minasian wasn’t worried about Loup last year.
Skip
You sound worried
At this point it’s despair.
I wonder what the record is for most players that have appeared on an MLB roster in a season?
Padres and they’re all shortstops.
64.
Sorry. Phone died before I could correct and complete my post.
67 in a non-COVID season by the Mariners in 2019.
69 were used by the Cubs in 2021, but 18 of them were replacements for players out because of the COVID protocols.
With Caceres getting in the game last night, doesn’t that put the Angels at 68 now?
I think you are correct.
Deeds again proving he doesn’t know how commas work with:
“Making room for Caceres on the 40-man roster, is Loup, which is little more than a procedural move.”
A comma after roster is completely incorrect.