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Angels Promote New Reliever After Silseth Joins Rangers
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- Angels Promote New Reliever After Silseth Joins Rangers
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The Los Angeles Angels are in trade mode , and they just one of their few reliable relievers when Chase Silseth was traded to the Texas Rangers along with catcher Logan O'Hoppe for a low-level prospect.
The equal and opposite reaction to that — okay, so maybe it's not equal — is the promotion of Luke Murphy to the Angel's 40-man roster, according to a report from Anthony Franco of MLBTradeRumors.com that referenced Taylor Blake Ward of Baseball America. This move fills one of three open roster spots, but more moves are anticipated between now and the trade deadline on Aug. 3.
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The 26-year old Murphy played his college baseball at Vanderbilt, and the Angels drafted him in the fourth round back in 2021. Muphy went unselected in last year's Rule 5 draft after allowing an astounding 48 runs in 45-1/3 minor league innings, but he's had an impressive bounce-back season at Double-A Rocket City.
The 6'5' right-hander has thrown 38 innings with an ERA of 0.71 across 34 appearances, and that number will get any pitcher noticed. Murphy has been the closer for Rocket City, and he's 18-for-20 so far in save opportunities. Moreover, he's struck out 32 percent of opposing hitters, and Murphy's walk rate is just seven percent.
He's older than most other players at the Double-A level, so Murphy sitll isn't considered a premium prospect, but his velocity has been sitting in the mid-90s and he's earned this promotion. Murphy had a diastrous 23-game run of appearances in Triple-A last season, so the Angels will jump him over that level and use him in their bullpen.
While the circumstances are certainly unusual, Murphy is exactly the kind of player the Angels should be gambling on and evaluating, especially since they're expected to lose impending free agents Kirby Yates and Brent Suter by Monday's trade deadline. The Angels are also going to be evaluating Ryan Zeferjahn based on his ability to get swings and misses, although outs are a hit-and miss matter with Zeferjahn.
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The Halos are also already looking at Samy Natera Jr., and he could challenge right-hander Jose Fermin, who's just 24. Throwing pitchers like this into high-leverage situations isn't exaclty ideal but that's where the Angels are right now. There are still a lot of games to play, and their unsightly bullpen could actually get worse in the next couple of months.
