The Angels announced the signing of free agent infielder Kevin Newman on a one-year deal with a club option for 2026. The Halos designated catcher Matt Thaiss for assignment to create a 40-man roster spot. Newman, a Jonathan Weiss client, is reportedly guaranteed $2.75MM. That takes the form of a $2.5MM salary for next season and a $250K buyout on a $2.5MM club option for 2026. The Angels recently announced that shortstop Zach Neto could miss the start of the 2025 season following shoulder surgery.
Newman, 31, had a nice year in a utility role with the Diamondbacks in 2024. The former Pirates first-rounder hit .278/.311/.375 (89 wRC+) with plus defense at both middle infield spots. He also logged brief time at third base and in the outfield corners. He doesn’t provide any power (three homers, .097 ISO) or draw many walks (4.8%), but Newman also showed pesky contact skills, fanning in only 15.4% of his plate appearances. He’s a roughly average runner but has savvy enough instincts to have gone 30-for-35 in stolen base attempts over the past four seasons (85.7% success). Newman swiped eight bags in each of the past three seasons and peaked at a career-best 16 steals when he was given more playing time with the Pirates in 2019.
Even in the event that Neto is ready for Opening Day, Newman makes some sense as a pure bench option for an Angels club that’s lacking any sort of proven contributor. Former top prospect Scott Kingery is currently in line to hold a bench role. The only other infield options on the 40-man roster are Eric Wagaman, who debuted as a 27-year-old rookie in September, and former second-round pick Kyren Paris, who struggled immensely at Double-A, Triple-A and in the majors last season. Newman will add some necessary depth and raise the team’s floor with his track record of excellent glovework.
Newman can also provide the Halos with some depth in the event that oft-injured veteran Anthony Rendon again requires an absence of length. Newman has been better suited at the middle infield spots than at third base, but the Halos could shift Luis Rengifo to the hot corner if Rendon misses time and plug Newman in at second in his place.
While Newman doesn’t have a strong track record at the plate, he’s settled into a fairly specific range in terms of offensive output over the past three seasons. His 2024 output is a good approximation of what to expect. Dating back to 2022, he’s a .270/.313/.371 hitter in 873 plate appearances. It’s about 14% worse than average, by measure of wRC+, but when coupled with plus defense and above-average baserunning skills it’s enough to make Newman a useful role player who can help any club that’s short on infield depth — a description that currently fits the Angels to a tee.
Will Sammon and Sam Blum of the Athletic first reported the Angels and Newman were nearing a deal. Jon Heyman of the New York Post confirmed there was an agreement in place. Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reported the salary breakdown.
And that’s the one move of the day!
david – I suggest more fiber in your diet.
davidk1979 — Those Angels are really shaking up MLB this year.
Welp, it looks like Rendon will not be relied upon at all in 2025. Good call by the Angels.
They signed him because Neto could be recovering from surgery when the season starts.
@prov356. Rendon is staying this is for neto. Rengifo will probably play 2nd.
Correction – My hope is Rendon will not be relied upon in 2025!
Newman doesn’t play third and can’t hit. Not the guy you want playing third.
@halo11fan. Well he does play third, but was graded out the worst at third last year. Looks like he’s fletcher. Not great, but not a black hole offensively.
Of course he can, but he’s 31 years old and has played less than 20 full games at third.
He just doesn’t play third, nor should anyone want him playing third.
He shouldn’t be plan “B”.
@halo11fan. Most likely ss, with rengifo at 2nd. Rendon at 3rd. When neto comes back Rendon will be hurt by than, and rengifo can slide to 3rd.
that is what he has always been- the hollow average player. HE will hit 260-280, but there is no power or speed here- so that average grades out a good click below average. For a bench piece, he is great- he plays MI well, and can play all over the field and for a team with less depth in the upper minors, he is a great bandaid for any injury since he has so much versatility… but do not expect him to be any more than that. HE is also a good guy to pinch hit when you just need to keep the game alive with a hit (down a few runs) since he can get on base (and does not clog up the basepaths, but not a real threat to run).
I love him as the utility player on just about any roster in the bigs.
We will see how the year plays out. I can’t say I’m looking forward to anything they do.
It’s not a great time to be an Angel fan.
Yes…the Mariners should have signed him as a utility player….he can hit much Breyer than Moore, who they seem to be in love with even though his career average is barely over .200
Better, not breyer
Fletcher was better if you can believe that.
You have low standards, but I guess Angel fans don’t have much choice.
Honestly, it’ll be nice having another player on the team that isn’t focused on home runs and running up the k Stat. It’s a positive pick up for the utility roll or a fill in player.
Yes. This.
Rengifo is playing 3B. Newman and Kingery give them band aid options. Then you gotta wonder if Christian Moore is the opening day 2B. Because suddenly the Angels don’t have a middle IF going into 2025.
@martevious Dylan Moore is really good. His defense is elite anywhere you put him (just won Gold Glove) and he has surprising pop in his bat. Puts up good WAR for utility. Underrated player.
I feel for you. It’s such an oddly run franchise. Not like Rockies or Marlins bad, but just a lot of head scratching moves. Never rebuilding, just stuck in the mud.
Dylan Moore is a very good defender but a gold glove at utility is like a 4th place ribbon
One utility isn’t a position, I’ve never seen a 4-10-3 double play called.
Two you’re the second best player at 3 spots.
I’ve watched him for years and he never brings his bat and glove to the park together. It’s always one or the other and at a .206 average it doesn’t take much to figure out which one he forgets. He’s not underrated he’s properly rated. Not glove first. Glove only.
He can steal too. And pop one out of the park on occasion.
2.2 WAR last year. Only .4 WAR less than Pete Alonso. Now let that sink in.
@ignorant also his WAR is the same as his deal pretty much. He might’ve been the player that his price would’ve went up if you waited.
Last year. Now do career. Nice try
@RyanWKrol. Moore will start in the minors until Rendon gets hurt. For what perry was saying seems like kingery is going to be a pinch runner/defensive replacement. Newman will be the utility guy once neto comes back. I’m sure they will sign someone else on a minor league deal like a guillorme type.
The only way that Moreno will get it is if the season ticket holders number falls 50% or more. As long as they finance watching this train wreck it will continue.
He actually wasn’t that bad at the plate last season. Overall he’s been serviceable and with his position flexibility is a nice utility option. As a whole I kind of like what Angels have been doing as far as position players. They obviously are going to live or die to an extent with Trout. The Rendon thing is what it is but at least it’s nearing an end. Can’t really fault them there either. He was coming a few great seasons and nothing indicative of what was to come.
Then there is pitching…. The approach of not signing SPs to longterm deals pretty clearly has not been working for them. By and large it doesn’t work for most teams. I can only think of 2 examples plugging holes with just short term deals really worked. SF a few yrs back won over 100 games but still had some longterm SPs in rotation. And then KC this past season with Wacha and Lugo. Maybe one day Arte can put his pride aside and try a new approach.
@tigers3232. That’s why I wouldn’t mind them checking on Montgomery. It’s only a year worth a gamble. Take on 20 million and it might not be bad of a price. I saw something that they don’t want to go over last year’s payroll.
Monty I’d saybis worth a flier. I definitely think he’s better than what we saw last year. I don’t think he’s the pitcher we saw in 2023 tho.
Just because he’s better than you saw last year doesn’t mean pay the man. It means find cheaper better than you did last year. Did that dude just say “take on 20 million”? You won’t make 20 million in your lifetime you just told someone else to spend it like you matter. Cmon do better.
@black pink. There you go babbling about money again you sound like my ex wife. 1/20 is less of a risk Than 4/80. Do worse and eat some tide pods
No. Arte specifically said they are gonna add to the payroll this year.
@anglsfan I was talking about the dbacks not wanting to go over this year’s payroll. Reason why they’re shopping Montgomery. He’s been a sub 4 era pitcher until last year. Also he logs 160+ innings which is solid these days. Angels wouldn’t have a problem taking on the salary if it’s a dump. Grab a couple relievers and call it a day.
If you re referring to a $2M deal on a RP which is in pretty cheap as baseball economics, yes I said it seemed like a good low risk signing. In no way did I say anything indicative of how any money should be spent.
Should you be busy formulating opinions based solely off ERAs like it’s 1940?
NEWMAN !!
LOL — I guess it’s no coincidence that (Jerry) Dipoto didn’t pick him up.
No, if you hit better than .220, Dipoto isn’t interested…
Shame he won’t be playing his home games at George Steinbrenner field.
Hello, Newman… Hello, Jerry…
Neat-O!
He immediately becomes the best defensive player on the team. Unfortunately he can’t hit.
Career .260 hitter. Maybe he doesn’t hit for power, but that’s still a decent average.
He’s a major league player. Therefore he’s an improvement.
I’m so tired of the 29th ranked farm system, which has no depth, sending up players to replace major league players.
The farm hands should not be in major leagues.
@Halo11fan. It’s something they should’ve had last year or kept fletcher. Atleast now if injuries hit we can call up moore. Still probably need to sign a 4a infielder incase. Maybe a defensive 4a center. The offense is probably done. Now it’s time to address the pitching.
That’s the state the Angels were in. Every team goes through it. You rebuild then that involves band aids and duct tape hoping to not lose 100 games.
I’d feel a lot better if they had better drafts and better foreign scouting.
I think they should have kept Fletcher.
Angels are getting the backend of their offseason moves done first instead of waiting for their first choice to sign and have these guys sign somewhere else. As an Angels fan atleast doing something and being aggressive. We have to start somewhere.
It’s kind of a backwards way of doing things, but good strategy is sometimes doing the opposite of whatever everyone else is doing. I can’t say I love the moves or anything, but they are filling out rosters spots with guys that can actually play.
that is pretty much what is happening- they have so many needs, that it is better to dip in early. The 2b/utility INF pool is not overly deep- so he really is at least the 4th or 5th best option there in FA, and even then i could be convinced he should be higher (what does Whit Merrifield actually look like now? 2b is traditionally where you put your SS that did not pan out there, so when they reach FA the pool is thin….. even generally after Albies, who else is really there- then think 10-20 players deep and realize you are looking at mostly Kevin Newman types as every day 2b for a lot of teams)
Do you think the Angels are going to make any major additions?
It seems to me that they are doing what decidedly bad teams do.. add some low-key signings that they hope will overperform so they can flip them at the deadline.
It’s difficult to imagine a major FA signing in Anaheim, unless they overpay.. but their payroll is already pretty high.
@ckinstl. Looks like they getting depth, and leadership. Maybe waiting out the market for deals
@ckinstl. Angels Have 98 million in space roughly.
Rex – why do you say that?
The payroll is at 126 million without Newman it’s on spotrac.
With projected arb salaries it is $169 million. Either way, why do you think they will have a $200 million+ payroll?
@ckinSTl. The only reason why was Because of the uncertainty of the bally deal. They had the deal reworked. Arte normally does he just doesn’t like going over the tax line. Plus we will probably sell off if it doesn’t work.
I think Rex is just making the statement regarding before the Luxury tax kicks in.
My belief is Arte will not go to the Luxury Tax level and that’s a hard line. However, if it’s the right signing Arte will approve any deal up to the Luxury tax.
Go to Cots and you’ll see projected arbitration and 0-3 year salaries and other goodies listed with the actual payrolls, operational and luxury tax, which is now at 2014 Dodgers payroll level.
@scott brewer. Yeah it more because he was saying the payroll was high it’s not even close. But yeah your right arte will be around 15 million under the line.
Last season Minasian picked a handful of depth type players and that was all he did. For Angels fans sakes I hope they do more.
Newman seems like a temporarily fill in for Neto and then utility guy after Neto is back. He has the best glove Angels fans will have seen in the infield since Simmons.
I don’t expect the Angels to change much offensively. The Angels had 4 players hit 20 or more HRs last year., which was tied for 2nd most. If you add Trout and Soler that is 6 players can hit 20 or more.. These moves are upgrades to depth which we apparent needs based on the team the Angels put out there at the end of year.
The bigger issue is pitching and has been for a long time. We will see what happens once the hot stove heats up.
I’d say offense was just as much of a need. Soler addresses a roster spot that was basically a zero if not a negative. D’Arnaud replaces a backup catcher spot that was a zero. Then there’s these bench moves that can keep those spots at least at league average. I still say add more and then swoop in on pitching next month unless someone is eager before the winter meetings.
halos2017;
Didn’t the Angels do this exact same thing a few years ago: signing a group of veteran free agents to supplement their stars?
Tyler Wade. Matt Duffy. Michael Lorenzen. Noah Syndergaard. Aaron Loup. Others in support of Shohei Ohtani, Anthony Rendon, and Mike Trout.
How’d that turn out?
I’ll tell you. Trout and Rendon missed most of the year again, and that alone can cripple a team’s chances. Just look at the Dodgers and Yankees and how much win value is skewed toward Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, Judge and Soto. Besides, it’s kind of weird asking that when that’s exactly what every team should be doing with their offseason. At the Angels try it. A lot of teams will just sit on their hands and then people wonder why the Pirates can’t do anything.
The Angels have no plan. Their only consistency is in being aimless every offseason. You can call these moves and the ones last year and regarding Lorenzen and Syndergaard in prior years whatever you pretend they are, but bandaids on gunshot wounds is stupidity.
Perry made a smart move. I have always liked Kevin; as long as you don’t expect more than what he is capable of, he’s your man.
The Angels are keeping the hot stove boiling so far
@jdg
Simmering.
Angels are not waiting around to add non-roster invitees to their camp, they are proactively signing these journeymen and washed up players…
Newman is a decent part-timer, but always struggles when he’s given a fulltime role.
2.2 bWAR player – off the bench – last year.
Not a bad pick up at all, depending on price.
I like a man with a brain
That’s a great pick-up line.
Finally someone off the bench who is not a 190 hitter with very little MLB experience.
The quest for mediocrity continues unabated.
Wow, Angels really winning the offseason.
Smart pickup, so far all of their moves will make them more competitive
I’m calling it right now. Dodgers and Angels world series in 2025!
@DarrenDreifortsContract
ChiSox are going to give the AL a run for their money, in 2025!
Instead of Newman, I think the Angels need Newteam.
Angels taking the off-season by storm.
Angels love their 1st rounders
2.2 WAR last year… dang, not bad.
There’s gotta be an error with computations of that number. Part time player with wRC+ of ~90 ? Fangraphs has him at 1.4 WAR and that still feels high.
Fangraphs does a better job with defense than baseball reference. Baseball Reference is too formulaic, fangraphs is much more detail oriented.
Can’t wait for him to be starting at 3b and batting fourth in June.
“Hello, Newman!”
Damn you beat me to it!
Need the maniacal laugh for effect lol
Alfred E. Neuman?
Smockin’.
They are a better team now than they were when the season ended. But still not to a level to compete.
@cbraves. It’s basically depth, when the injuries happen. Plus we have 1st base covered, because ward and tda play if needed. Plus dh is covered so we dont have calhoun hitting cleanup again.
Angels roster is taking shape early. Assuming Neto *doesn’t* start the year on the IL you could be looking at a starting 9:
C Logan O’Hoppe
1B Nolan Schanuel
2B Luis Rengifo
3B Anthony Rendon
SS Zach Neto
OF Mike Trout
OF Taylor Ward
OF Jo Adell
DH Jorge Soler
Bench
C Travis d’Arnaud
IF Kevin Newman
IF/OF Scott Kingery
OF Mickey Moniak
Starting Rotation
Tyler Anderson
Jose Soriano
Reid Detmers
Kyle Hendricks
Jack Kochanowicz
Bullpen
Ben Joyce
Jose Suarez
Hans Crouse
Brock Burke
Jose Quijada
Chase Silseth
Davis Daniel
Victor Mederos
Eventually Robert Stephenson and Patrick Sandoval will join that mix. The bullpen should be Perry’s next order of business because woof is it ugly
@rsox. They need another starter to slide Hendricks into the bullpen. I’m hoping saurez is gone. Same with the bullpen need someone to replace Daniel. After that I’m fine with waiting the relief market out to find someone else on a one year deal.
I’m going to get hate, but Montgomery could be a nice buy low candidate for the rotation. I’m sure dbacks will have to pay the contract down and the return should be minimum. Also a good flip candidate at the deadline.
I don’t see the D’backs selling low on Montgomery though. If they have to pay down the salary then the return would be expect to be higher than if the Angels were to take on the majority of the salary, in which the D’backs may throw in a prospect kicker
@rsox I was thinking 5 going back to the angels, but heck even 20 isn’t terrible. Angels signed Harvey and Thor for 20+ plus for a year. I would take my chances with fried but don’t like the pick attached. Montgomery has been decent, I would take my chances on him over most of the mid tier guys that want a 4 year deal
I think Angels need to sign an ace starting pitcher pure & simple. 2025 – 26’ starting pitcher aces is a very thin class (Zac Gallen & Dylan Cease). This FA class has more high quality depth. Plus it’s Perry M. & Ron W. last contract year to do something. Go for it!
#1 SP target Roki Sasaki
#2 SP target Corbin Burnes 7 year $252mm
– This massive contract term is why Roki is #1 target.
– Dodgers & Padres will not be in on this…if Corbin wants to come home and get paid…the spot is with the Angels!
Starting Rotation
1. Corbin Burnes
2. Jose Soriano
3. Tyler Anderson
4. Kyle Hendricks
5. Open for internal spring competition!
– Please note the starting pitching arms in Angels system all have minor league options available aside from (Davis Daniel & Jose Suarez).
– Patrick Sandoval will miss 2025 season (Potential Playoffs)
Bullpen:
1. Ben Joyce CP
2. Jose Quijada
3. Brock Burke
4. Ryan Zeferjahn…
– Robert Stephenson (recovering from TJ..mid-season return)
Replace Corbin Burnes with Patrick Corbin, and you’ll better understand what the Angels’ rotation might look like.
Unfortunately true. The last starting pitcher the Angels invested any real money on was C.J. Wilson…
The Angels need a real plan. Not having one puts them behind even the White Sox at this point.
There is NO WAY on God’s green earth that ANY #1 starter with any brains would sign with the Angels. Why would they? Dream all you want but its not going to happen. IF the St Louis Browns were still in the AL, the Angels would be looking up at them.
Good move. The Angels are so incredibly weak at so many different positions that adding these low-cost players are massive improvements. Having professional, veteran players is good, and the good young core the Angels are slowly building will benefit greatly from players like Hendricks, TDA, etc.
He was solid for us this season. I hate to see him go, but it’s time to give the young guys their shots.
Look out in 2025, AL West!
Moves like this are necessary for MLB clubs. Not every move can be a blockbuster. I don’t get all the hate.
Good glove, ok bat, cheap, a good move for needed veteran infield depth.
The Angels need an ace. My biggest wish is that the Angels will roll the dice and sign a #1 starter.
Something tells me that nothing really matters though until Trouts and Rendons contracts expire. Giving away 75 mil/yr. for nothing is just killing the team.
Rendon is a lost cause. Trout however might still have a career if he loses 20-30 pounds. He’s certainly had had enough time these past 2 seasons to do that. He alone is responsible for killilng his knees and his speed.
Still 4th at best and more likely 5th.
@aragon. If trouts out for the season again most likely. The signings have been small depth moves. I don’t think it’s over yet. Now it’s time to address pitching.
I always get Kevin Newman mixed up with Kyle Farmer.
I like the move Kevin Newman puts the ball in play utility infielder or second base 278 average with 80 hits last year little over 300 at bats if he makes the starting lineup next year, I could see him being the lead off man
Low walk rate though.
Hello Newman!
Bang! Another power move by Perry. This roster is really going to be a powerhouse. Hope they didn’t ask what Newman’s ring size is, cause they’ll never need to know. Dumpster diving Arte strikes again for the 3rd consecutive off season. Woooohoooo!!!
incoming minasian masterclass, again…
Adding depth on short term deals is fine during a rebuild.
Rendon is smart. Makes 100’s of Millions and is always hurt. Hangs out at clubhouse eating like a king
He will help Angels hold down 5th place in the AL West
Dumpster divin Perry strikes again. We can expect Newman to hit 30 bombs with an OPS of 900. As long as he is sent to the local high-school team to play the season.
Maybe MLB should again explore constriction and join the Angels with the A’s with an American League conservator operating them until Moreno & Fisher are replaced. 40 years ago MLB proposed constricting the Angels and Twins into one team. That came close to happening but Carl Pohlad bought the Twins from the Griffith family and both teams improved on the field as did their attendance which was in the pits, MLB taking the Angels from Moreno & Fisher because of attendance and on the field performance could spur both to sell their teams.
@theoldranger. That’s why Montgomery makes sense he doesn’t have a choice. Definitely the sooner the better so dbacks could try to keep walker or sign someone with the money saved because they have already said they don’t expect to increase payroll from last year.
Bunch ah nobodies like I expected the Angles to sign