Infielder/outfielder Luis Rengifo and right-hander Chase Silseth of the Angels are both done for the year, reports Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register on X. Rengifo had season-ending wrist surgery while Silseth had season-ending elbow surgery. It’s unclear exactly what kind of surgery Silseth had but Fletcher says it was not Tommy John surgery. Both players are expected to be ready for Spring Training next year.
Rengifo was a popular name in trade rumors this summer due to his strong performance and narrowing window of club control on a struggling team. Since the start of 2022, Rengifo has hit .273/.323/.431 for a wRC+ of 110. He’s also stolen 36 bases and bounced around the diamond to all three outfield spots and the three infield positions to the left of first base. He’s making $4.4MM this year and is controllable via arbitration for 2025 before he’s slated for free agency.
The Angels are out of contention this year and made some sell-side moves prior to the trade deadline, but limited themselves to just moving impending free agent relievers Carlos Estévez and Luis García. Despite Rengifo’s name popping up from time to time, he wasn’t traded, but perhaps the wrist issue played a role there. He landed on the IL July 4 due to right wrist inflammation and was reinstated July 23, but landed right back on the IL on August 3. Maybe the uncertainty around the ailment tamped down the offers and led the Angels to hold on.
Regardless of what happened with the trade talks, the result now is that Rengifo is out for the year. That won’t have a huge impact on the Halos in the short term since they will mostly be playing out the string for the rest of the schedule. It will lower Rengifo’s ability to raise his 2025 salary compared to what would have been possible if he stayed healthy. His name is likely to be in some trade rumors again this winter but the Angels might hold onto him into the 2025 campaign so that he can demonstrate his health for prospective trade partners. He’ll be transferred to the 60-day IL as soon as the Angels have a need for his roster spot.
Silseth tossed 52 1/3 innings for the Halos last year with a 3.96 earned run average. That put him in line for a rotation job in 2024 but his season has been derailed multiple times. He made two big league starts to begin the year but then landed on the IL with right elbow inflammation. No ligament damage was found but Silseth was nonetheless transferred to the 60-day IL at the end of April. He began a rehab assignment at the end of May and was reinstated from the IL on June 25 and optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake. He then made four more Triple-A appearances between late June and late July but now it seems he’ll require some of sort of surgical procedure to get over his ailment.
The righty came into this year with 153 days of service time. He crossed the one-year mark while on the injured list but is no longer adding to that total since being optioned in June. The Halos could call him up and add him to the 60-day injured list, which would start his service time clock again, but they won’t need a roster spot right away. Their 40-man roster count is currently at 39 and, as mentioned, they can move Rengifo to the 60-day IL to open up a spot at any point. The same is true of Mike Trout, who is also done for the year but has not yet been moved to the 60-day IL.
Since Silseth is expected back by the spring, he clearly hasn’t undergone a major ligament procedure and could be a part of the club’s rotation mix for 2025. As of right now, the group projects to include Tyler Anderson, Griffin Canning, José Soriano, Davis Daniel, Carson Fulmer, Reid Detmers, Kenny Rosenberg and Silseth.
shortstop
There go our playoff hopes…
gold masters
Not really
shortstop
Glad to hear you are still optimistic!
Unclemike1525
Carson Fulmer is a candidate to be in a rotation? Oh it’s the Angels. Never Mind.
bruinlife33
Gold Shower–idiot
LordD99
They’re still intact with the same odds.
Badtakesonly
Good thing some team didn’t go all out to trade for Rengifo. Wrist issues are a lingering nightmare sometimes, wish him and Silseth a good recovery.
Dorothy_Mantooth
Thank God the Red Sox pulled out of that deal. They were very interested in adding him. The opted for Luis Garcia at the last minute instead.
Rsox
Yeah, the Sox dodged a Bullett on not making that move. Rengifo was the guy everyone kept talking about (no idea why) and if they had got him would have all been for nothing
Rexhudler86
@rsox he has another year on his contract, so even though it would’ve sucked this year it would be in fine next season.
Rsox
Sox have a glut of middle Infielders as is and next year will have more. Rengifo isn’t really any better than whats already on hand regardless of contract status
orange2001
Wouldn’t be an Angels season without more season-ending surgeries.
BasedBall
Imagine how depressing it must be to be the GM of the Angels. You probably spend your time convincing Arte that the team doesn’t need more rally monkeys
14thor
Crypto, They know their time is short in Anaheim. It’s like a vacation.
James Midway
Might as well
Non Roster Invitee
In other news former MLB player Billy Bean passed away today.
Dorothy_Mantooth
Sad news…not to be confused with Billy Beane though (the Oakland A’s GM).
LifeisJustaFantasy
I didn’t know there were 2 Billy Bean(e)s
gold masters
He wrote a book about being gay
sugoi51
From leukemia, very sad indeed.
Alexpulido7051 2
Injuries are an old pastime. They seem to strike either the highest paid players or the most productive. Hopefully Rendon, Ward and Detmers can finish out the rest of the year healthy and back to their career norms. Trout, Rengifo, Silseth, Robert Stephenson, and Wantz can come back healthy and the team has minimal injuries next yeae. We haven’t even had a healthy Trout or Rendon this year, or the last 4 years. If the Angels can stay healthy and hopefully have minimal injuries to key players, they should at least be in the playoff picture. Re-sign guys like Pillar and Strickland to one year deals and some of their other role players that have over performed. Sign some Free Agents to fill Holes. Their pitching lately seems to be more stable than when the season started. Guys like Canning and Detmers will hopefully figure it out and be central to the team next year.
kellin
Detmers isn’t injured, he’s just been in the minors trying to figure it out. So far, he hasn’t.
Alexpulido7051 2
Detmers was looking like an Ace to start the season, and just got rocked in his last outing at AAA. What’s going on? Is he tipping his pitches, missing his spots, or have the hitters figured him out and he hasn’t yet adjusted?
SteveC
Pillar says he’s likely to retire at season’s end
Alexpulido7051 2
He said that right after he got his ten years of service time. He never said he wouldn’t come back if he was offered a MLB contract. It’s a lot difference having to go into spring training by signing a minor league contract and having to earn your spot vs being told you have a spot on a MLB roster coming to spring training. He’s worthy of at least a one year contract for 2025. His style of play and presence would be very valuable to a team like the Angels. He’s definitely earned it.
orange2001
Pillar’s now changed his tune saying he may return for another season or retire.
But he said that it was a mutual decision to not be traded at the deadline as playing for a third team this season would be tough on his family.
Rsox
Based of Pillar’s own words i think he comes back if he’s offered a guaranteed contract but retires if all that’s offered are minor league invites to training camp
proton
Angels fans you gotta love em. You have Seattle Houston and Texas in your Div. Do you think an injury prone Fish a I’ve gone and ReDone that most of the season IL stint and a few B players are going to let you beat all 3 of those teams? Maybe it is the sun and your eggs got fried. Now on a serious note. Never mind you can hope and wish while the big boys win.
That name is already taken
They’ve beaten all 3 of those teams without Trout and Tony 2 Bad this year.
proton
LOL You have beaten them all. I guess you are happy to win a game or 2 against the better teams in your Div. The As have beaten them all but still suck. You are what 11 games back?
Alexpulido7051 2
Last year the Yankees, Mets, and Boston watched the playoffs from home. This year they are all playing really good, and contenders. The mighty Dodgers, Atlanta, and Phillies all watched Arizona play in the World Series. Regardless of what the so called experts say. Teams don’t win or lose according to what experts say.
Russell Branyan
I’d like to know what deals the Angels turned down for Rengifo. How does Arte not realize he doesn’t know anything about building a team, and get out of the way.
JoeBrady
They probably were asked about his health. They might’ve gotten no offers.
Russell Branyan
Any other team but the Angels & Rockies I’d assume that. The Angels have a history of holding onto guys who are unlikely to contribute to a playoff team, and there were multiple pieces not traded this deadline.
proton
So you mean the whole roster. Only Angels contributing in the playoffs are the ones you trade.
It sucks to have a player be loyal to your team and town and never win much for him. We had Griffey and Felix. Our ownership (Nintendo USA) treated it like a business. They only cared about the profit.
Lou left because he asked for players a couple times. 2001 he knew we needed another piece. Forget bat arm but ownership said no can’t afford it. Then they floated the other business on the Mariners profits.
I enjoy busting chops of rivals. Makes it more fun and it is done in fun. I respect you root for your home team. Like it should be.
Have to be careful with the SF crowd though they take it personal. Especially when you guess right they have Oakland and SF stuff in the closet. Root for the team that has some success. Anyway this is turning out to be a tough Div. Going to be hard to get 2 teams in the playoffs.
gold masters
Russell Branyan the baseball player? Is that you
Russell Branyan
No, I’m actually Fernando Vina, but please keep that to yourself.
SoCalBrave
@Russell Branyan Given the low returns for hitters this year, probably not much
yeasties
Meddling owners seem to be two types, the ones who own the team as a vanity project, and those that have been successful hands-on managers for their entire lives.
The second group seem like they can be convinced to let go of control, but Arte Moreno appears to be in the first group. Only solution is to wait for a new owner, sadly
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
The worst kind of owner is the vanity project type coupled with the fact they either have no actual interest in the sport or know very little about the sport (but think they do.) These billionaires think since they were successful in one area of life that they are geniuses when it comes to everything else.
Alexpulido7051 2
I heard that wrist injuries can be sign of bigger potential problems. Maybe his trade value dropped and the teams that were inquiring lowered the value of their trade prospects? Estevez and Garcia both were playing at their best leading up to the trade deadline while Rengifo wad just come back from his wrist injury and seemed to struggling as his average dropped to .300
gold masters
9 and one half back
Angels are on their way
Yeah, right
No really
At the end of August when the angels are 4 and one half out, somebody’s ears will be ringing
Seattle and the two Texas teams are beatable
So is everyone else
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Well come on then; come take it from us.
SoCalBrave
As insane as how gold master’s statement sounds, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Angels finish second on the AL West
orange2001
I think they’ll finish third – and I’m being overly optimistic.
Alexpulido7051 2
No team in the West this year has really proven to run away with the division. They’ve al had their struggles with underperformance and injuries. Any team with the right moves and health is capable of winning the division next year, even Oakland if they build around the talent they have and make some decent trades this offseason
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Next year is a completely different story. Seattle will still be up there because of their pitching. Rangers should be better. I think the Astros are heading for a fade. Angels will depend on everyone being healthy and Arte opening his checkbook for multiple meaningful free agents. Athletics last place.
HalosHeavenJJ
I’m not very inspired by the impending free agent list.
Rsox
There aren’t that many “meaningful free agents” available for the Angels to sign that would make a difference. This team needs a full rebuild but as long as Arte owns the team and Trout is still around they will never do it
That name is already taken
Angels just need to stay consistent on offense. It isn’t really the pitching that I worry about even with a depleted rotation. Would be cool to see Christian Moore this month.
HalosHeavenJJ
I only write about the Angels and I’m injured.
LordD99
Run some dirt on the injury and get back to your keyboard and typing!
Butter Biscuits
He might be non tendered in the off season
DevoPettis
That 2025 Angels w that pitching staff along with Jo Adell playing center and the usual band of one year misfits and castoffs will be worse than even this year.
gold masters
Only 9 back today
Best line up yet for angels in game one
All is forgiven for rendon
All is for given for arte
Drury will break out before the call ups
Remember the titans
Remember the 02 angels