The Los Angeles Angels shuffled bodies up and down the roster, with potential closer KIrby Yates going on the IL.
Most teams have their rosters set the day before Opening Day, but the Los Angeles Angels announced a series of 11 roster moves that included closer candidate Kirby Yates starting the season on the 15-day injured list along with infielder Vaughn Grissom and three other players.
Yates’ injury is the most serious, as manager Kurt Suzuki said that the potential closer’s knee has been bothering him for about a week now. Suzuki added that this is a cautionary move, and the Angels supposedly aren’t too concerned, according to Jack Janes of MLB.com. His roster slot will be filled by left-handed reliever Joey Lucchesi, who was signed yesterday after being released by the San Francisco Giants.
Grisson sustained a hand injury back on March 11, and he hasn’t played in a spring training game since. He’s made some progress, but not enough to be ready for the start of the season, and Grissom is out of minor league options.
The three other players going on the injured list were pitchers Grayson Rodriguez, Alek Manoah and Ben Joyce. Joyce’s situation has been known for some time, but Manoah is struggling now with a blister and fingernail issue since his last start, and Suzuki added that he’s “working through some mechanical things.”
Rodriguez’s status has also been known for a while, but the Angels added that he’s suffering from “dead arm.” He’s been playing catch and playing catch, but Rodriguez also hasn’t thrown a bullpen since his last start.
Finally, there’s Joyce, who’s been building back up after shoulder surgery last May. Suzuki said Joyce is progressing well and is in “tremendous shape.”
“I saw Ben throw the other day and I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, you look ready,” Suzuki said.
On the addition front, infielder Jeimer Candelario has made the roster. Candelario got off to a strong start in spring training, and he ended up with an OPS of .927 as he hit four home runs, although he did slump to .235 in the last week or so. Candelario can play all four infield positions, and he’s also considered protection against yet another injury to fragile third baseman Yoan Moncada.
“[Candelario] had some homers, some good at-bats, some good swing decisions and being able to play first, third, then we put him at second,” Suzuki said. “So he's definitely had a great spring.”
The pitching injuries were especially concerning as the Angeles wound up making a total of 11 roster moves the day before the season starts, but none of this should be surprising given the extensive injury history of a lot of the hurlers the team signed.