Story by
Angels Add New Defensive Catcher As DFA Trey Mancini To End His Comeback Effort
- Story by
- Angels Add New Defensive Catcher As DFA Trey Mancini To End His Comeback Effort
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The Los Angeles Angels have been scrambling to find and add catching depth due to a rash of injuries, and today they announced that they've added catcher Tyler Heineman , who was designated for assignment for the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend, according to a report from Anthony Franco of MLBTradRumors.com, in a trade with Toronto for cash considerations.
The subsequent move to make room for Heiman involved Trey Mancini , who was designated for assignment. That means they didn't have to announce a roster move tongith, but they will have to make one tomorrow to officially add Heineman.
Advertisement
The move will probably send Logan oOrter back to Triple-A Los Vegas, as the Angels have been operating with the tandem of Logan O'Hoppe and Porter for the past week, Franco added. They lost their usual backup, Travis d'Arnaud, do to plantar fasciitis earlier in the season, and Sebastian Rivero recently hurt his hand swinging and had to undergo surgery for a broken hamate bone.
O'Hoppe has started hitting a little lately, and Porter has a full tally of minor league options, so he'll get the nod to back to Triple-A.
Heineman is known as a defensive catcher, but last year was the exception. He had a career best slash line of .289/.361/.416 showing over 64 games with Toronto last year, but last season he had a .154 average with one home run in 87 plate appearances.
He got some playing time when catcher Alejandro Kirk was out with a broken thumb, but Brandon Valenzuela outplayed him, according to Franco, so he made the cut as the backup catcher when Kirk returned.
Advertisement
Heineman is out of minor league options, so he had to get through waivers for the Jays to be able to send him to Triple-A, the writer added. The Angels jumped the waiver line with the trade and they'll take on the rest of Heineman's $1.2375 million arbitration salary in the process.
Heineman has a reputation as an excellent recieving catcher with a good arm, and he's old enough to be remembered and recognized by manager Kurt Suzuki , so that probably had a lot to do with this. Heineman will remain eligible for arbitration if he can hold his MLB job, and for the Halos he gives them the same level of catcher they had in d'Arnaud before he went down. The Angels are almost certainly hoping Heineman can help some of their young pitchers find more consistency as they conduct open invitations for rotation and bullpen spots.
