The Angels are working their way through some early season struggles, as they were just swept for the first time in 2025 and are on a four-game losing streak. They are searching for reinforcements, and just found one via signing a veteran reliever to a minor league contract and will get another when they return their starting third baseman from injury.
LAA adds yet another former Braves player
Midway through April, Perry Minasian signed Héctor Neris to a minor league contract, which is how he was brought in. Before the Angels signed him, the 35-year-old was, I hope you’re paying attention, just playing for the Atlanta Braves. When he witnesses his former team severing ties with a player, the Angels’ Braves-obsessed general manager can’t help himself. He must have them, whether it’s Ron Washington, Ian Anderson, Travis d’Arnaud, Jorge Soler, or Angel Perdomo.
Putting candor aside, Minasian is sticking to his offseason plan of taking chances with seasoned relievers. In addition to Dakota Hudson, Connor Brogdon, Victor Gonzalez, Shaun Anderson, Carl Edwards, and Endrys Briceno, Neris will be joining a Triple-A Salt Lake pitching staff.
Neris was a member of the Houston Astros World Series team in 2022. The following season, he had his best bWAR season with the division rival of the Angels. Before moving on to Chicago and Atlanta, he played for Philadelphia for the first eight years of his major league career, followed by Houston for two and a half years. The Angels’ bullpen, and pitching staff on the whole, is young and under-performing this season, so Neris could easily make his way back to the big leagues over the duration of the season.
Yoán Moncada working his way back from his thumb injury
Third baseman Yoán Moncada (sprained right thumb) has started batting from the right side but isn’t yet ready to hit from the left, according to Jeff Fletcher of The OC Register. Throughout his stint on the disabled list, Moncada has been practicing defensive drills. The Angels evaluators aren’t sure if they’ll send Moncada on a minor league rehab assignment before he’s activated from the 10-Day IL, Fletcher continued. It was promising that they chose the 10-Day over the 15-Day for their offseason signing (unlike their move for Ben Joyce), even though Moncada has been dealing with a thumb issue since late in spring training.
When the Angels need to free up roster spaces for their starting infielders on the left side of the diamond, Nicky Lopez and J.D. Davis are obvious DFA candidates (because they have no more minor league options) and Zach Neto will be activated off the injured list, followed by Moncada.
