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Padres Utility Player Signed By Angels After Being Released
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- Padres Utility Player Signed By Angels After Being Released
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The San Diego Padres released utility man Pablo Reyes last week , but the Los Angeles Angels announced that they've signed Reyes to a minor league deal, according to a report from Darragh McDonald of MLBTradeRumors.com. He'll report to Triple-A Salt Lake and should make an appearance for the Bees soon, McDonald added.
Reyes, who is 32, was having an outstanding season for Triple-A El Paso, so it's something of a mystery as to why the Padres released him. His slash line was .310/.408/.491 in 258 plate appaerances, and his strikeout and walk rates were strong at 13.6 percent and 14 percent, respectively. The Pacific Coast is considered a hitter's league, but according to McDonald those numbers are 21 percent above league average.
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But the writer also noted that Reyes has never put up numbers like that before. He's been a part-time player for five different teams over seven seasons, and his baseline performance level is .245/.305/.342 line in 606 big-league plate appearances.
What Reyes does offer is versatility, as he can play everywhere on the diamond except catcher. The Angels have been taking flyers on players like Reyes all season, and they have had some luck with players like outfielders Jose Siri and Wade Meckler , both of whom have made occasional contributions.
Reyes also may have extra value associated with the upcoming trade deadline. The Angels are expected to be sellers, with Jorge Soler , Josh Lowe , Jo Adell and others expected to be trade candidates.
As for the Padres, they've gone in a different direction, as they selected Luis Rengifo and signed him to a minor league deal. The career numbers of the two players are remarkably similar in many ways, but Rengifo does hit for power on occasion, and that's a huge need for San Diego right now as they try to restart their struggling offense.
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Reyes will start his stint with the Angels as a depth option, but another issue that will affect this is the fact that he's out of options, so if he does get promoted he won't be shuffled back and forth from Anaheim to Salt Lake.
But Rengifo has also been on a tear offensively has he was hitting .320 with two homers in six games at Triple-A, and the Padres could also be hoping his recent power surge continues in the big leagues.
"I just feel my timing [is better]," Rengifo said of the adjustments he's made. "They helped me with some mechanical stuff, and I feel really, really good. Just continue to do that."
