Perry Minasian continues to add depth. Today he snagged Brett Phillips on a major league deal. One year, $1.2 million.
Phillips brings a great glove and the ability to play all three outfield positions. He also hits from the left hand side. He doesn’t hit very well, though.
This signing should push Jo Adell to Salt Lake to start the year with Mickey Moniak also likely sliding down the depth chart.
Brett Phillips is known as a character but also for this heartwarming interaction with a fan.
`At $1.2 million- this is essentially a Spring Training invitation. It’s basically the major league minimum-plus. So he could be cut at any time with no impact.
Phillips is a great human being with a Career OPS+ of 72.
I would give Adell one more chance and also see if Ward can play some first base. I also want to see Moniak get many at-bats in spring training to see if can learn to hit.
Both Adell & Moniak will get one more chance next season. It will occur at the Great Salt Lake.
If this team is once again going to be serious about winning, We have No time for Losers.
I get what you are saying but Phillips has a career OPS+ of 72. I am not sure he is the answer as the fourth outfielder.
I still think Adell has a legit shot at pounding his way on the roster
Yah. In the end, for both Moniak and Adell, if they want to be MLB players all they have to do is slaughter AAA pitching and then come up to the MLB and hit. It’s not like signing Phillips as depth negates the team’s ability to promote and play either one of them if they are killing it. It’s all a good thing. Between Trout, Adell, Moniak, Phillips the Angels actually have four human beings that can at least cover the area of CF. If any of those last three overperform expectations (and we have 3 shots at someone doing that here) then the team gets some gravy.
Really, The elephant in the room is still the GOAT. Averaging only 77 games the last 2 seasons there will be ample opportunity for a 4th outfielder. So if Adell or Moniak are really poised to breakout this season, there will very likely be plenty of playing time to go around
Agreed.
I think we have guys who are going to be bench guys no matter what in Phillips and Squid.
If a starting OF’er goes on the IL, Phillips will stay the bench guy while whichever of Adell or Moniak is playing best gets most of the reps.
If we somehow get to Squid as the starting SS, we’re in deep trouble. But if Soto is having a decent year in AAA he’ll get the nod and Squid will go back to being a bench piece.
Coulda signed Brett Michaels…….whatever!
Always important to wear a bandana when your hairline recedes.
The more it recedes, the wider the bandana.
Nobody will notice, I swear.
Well now that you’ve told me….
i get it
Corrrea AND Philips are better than just spending it all one one player and signing Aaron Judge for OF – PTP is genius plus he’s economical
This might be worth a small cone fountain at most
Not sure who’s a backup or who’s a starter since 2015!!!! Except for 2 guys everybody else sucks 😡  😡  💩  💩  👎 
Any relation to Tony?
Or Wilson?
or Magnesia?
With his stats, he reminds me of Bum Phillips.
Or Captain?
This move doesn’t make me feel like a champion at all. I am so pissed off. Someone needs to get their shit together and make me feel like a winner damn it! What? am I supposed to do it myself!? If that idiot PTP was any good he’d go get me a CF who can hit and field whether one is available or not!
https://www.redreporter.com/
 💪  💪  💪 
i wanna pony,
not an donkey
If NewOnerz the Unicorn were around he’d find a way to sign a 25 year old Ricky Henderson for 400M. Then he’d just burn a pile of rare art because billionaire!
This is, after all, a must win season.
Love the photo of the post, Jeff. Was that taken after Rendon hit the home run left handed off that guy…I forget his name.
So you’re not saying He can Pitch?
So who’s getting jettisoned off the 40 man?
Austin Warren has been DFA’d
I didnt see that coming. Someone will snag him for sure.
Should have been Tucker Davidson
Or Marte. Or Weiss or even the Plumber
Warren had a breakout year in 2021 but then a tough break year (Literally and figuratively) last year with the freak BP accident.
I guess Perry wont flush the Tucker Turd until after his impending multiple Spring training BP sessions
Weiss and Plumber for sure
Good to have a pinch runner late in games
Strong DFA by May 31st vibes to this one
You could very well be right. If Adell or Moniak starts lighting it up in AAA, Phillips would be easy to DFA.
Honestly I’d greatly prefer Rameil Tapia who is also 28, also a burner, also hits lefty, but actually hits at a reasonable level.
Phillips seems like a great guy and I’ve rooted for him from afar, but he’s an OF version of Squid.
So Adell and Moniak are not enough on the bench?
I logged in to type “Out of Ward, Moniak, and Adell, Ward is the one who has reasonable trade value. Can we get our shortstop for Ward?”
If we did trade Ward, did we just make left field the hole in the batting order instead of shortstop?
Is this Charles Sutton asking Charles Sutton?
I guess. I’m kind of a senior.
You’re just covering all the bases.
But we need a SS!
I thought we needed a Unicorn NewOwnz. And a pony. Maybe a donkey. And no Carp in the FO. And a GM that is not a Ornithorhynchus anatinus.
Yes, and yes.
Phillips continues with the swiss army knife trend of the off season. He can spell anybody on the grass with Squid like defense and offense.
Yeah, he’s cheap and provides defensive flexibility.
Hopefully no more games like last season when Ikeman played CF.
Don’t talk crazy talk. Ward is a keeper.
Yeah. Don’t know why you’d take a guy who keeps getting better and better, is still kinda young, and is still cheap, and get rid of him. The shortstops that are worth that aren’t getting traded for just that and we don’t want to lose Ward for a .650 OPS SS.
OK, agreed. But what if you added 50-100 OPS with premium glove and got this guy? A little younger, slightly more expensive, almost certainly available… https://www.mlb.com/player/ha-seong-kim-673490
I like Kim. But I think our rabid fixation on SS has us overrating him a bit. He’s good. But as soon as we get him on our team we’ll realize that he’s a fairly good defender and a pretty light hitter over all…. and now we need a LF.
Walshie Agrees https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork/status/1612626905932472320
I think the team would benefit the most with them playing everyday at the Great Salt Lake (or for another team)
Exactly.
And Phillips isn’t really blocking them. We’re talking about a $1.2 million guy who has never hit.
If either Adell or Moniak starts balling out in AAA they’ll get called up. Or, if/when an injury happens I’d imagine the one playing best will still be called up.
If we had to aim low (Perry-style), I’d prefer trying to see what Moniak brings to the table. He’s done his work in the minors.
Phillips as a No. 4 hurts, No.5 okay. Squid-like batting skills should not be the first guy you call upon to give a guy a day or rest. He’s a late inning replacement.
But if Renfroe & Ward are healthy, The Moniak is riding the pine most every night. If Phillips sits Who gives a shit.
AND so far Mickeys defensive numbers ain’t that great.
BTW a “no. 5” outfielder for next years team will be in Salt Lake or will already be playing another position like Walsh, Rengifo or Gio.
You made me look it up, Moniak has 122 games at AAA. Nice 20 game run in the Phillies system last year but underwhelming numbers outside of that.
Career minor league slash line of .256/.305/.413.
Adell has much better minor league numbers than Moniak.
I think it will do both good to have regular playing time.
Moniak had a real good spring last year, then out with injury for months. With the Angels, had some decent ABs, then broke finger. Seems like a good guy. I’m not overly optimistic but Phillips spells doom for Moniak.
He looked pretty confident at the plate here.
Especially now that rosters are set at 28 guys…. oh wait….
You think he is getting another OF with offensive prowess?
The fielding metrics like Phillips alot more than Tapia though.
Career wise Phillips has a .695 OPS against RHP’s so those are adequate numbers especially considering all of our RH outfielders.
At $1.2 M per year not sure there is much risk especially if he still has options left. Here’s what MLBTR had to say:
Great points.
I was wrong he has no options left and from what I understand he’s not going to help with our new years resolution to cut down on strike outs. But all in all this is a low risk move. Now we need fill the other remaining 4 holes
I think we’re starting to plug imaginary holes on the roster. I don’t recall the unwashed masses clamoring to get a can’t hit-good defensive-runs faster than Forest Gump outfielder on the roster…..but perhaps I missed a post by 2002?
Apropos of the shift… I wish these rules had been implemented while we still had Pujols. Kind of accelerated his descent into mediocrity.
I’m convinced that the shift ban will lead to some players upping their offensive numbers quite a bit.
Me too, but contrary to popular opinion I don’t think it will be the power guys like Gallo. Those dudes will continue to K a ton and try to hit HR.
I think the contact hitters with speed will benefit the most. The guys who can get to first even if the second baseman makes a diving stop. Not saying Phillips will become league average, but he should be able to beat out some more hits.
True, it could raise his average 44-points, from .144 to.188. 🙂
You have to imagine they at least checked in on Tapia before they settled on this.
Thing is, we have a starting CF and Tapia probably wants to start so he can get his career back, so he’s probably looking at a bit more money from a team that’ll pay him to start. Like the A’s. Sign him for 3M and let him start in the OF, have him play CF if they trade Lareano, blah blah blah.
It’s another thing I don’t get about our hive mind. If we can’t promise the best shot at a ring, nor can we promise 400 ABs, why would a guy who is as good as we seem to be demanding sign here? Same with being a 15-20 start pitcher. Or a good shortstop who can hit. Why would “good” come here for a job that is usually filled by more questionable players?
We are gonna have to deal with hoping for solid outcomes from uncertain players, most likely because of players than the FO not being willing to sign some guy.
Then Perry should be lauded for putting together the best bench we’ve had in years.