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LA Angels Thursday News Crash: Injured, Sucks, Old

February 5, 2026

In summary, the Angels closer options article reads “injured, injured, sucks, sucks, old.”

Brandon Drury got a minor league deal with the Royals. He has an invitation to spring training. Michael Fulmer got his minor league deal with the Giants.

Carlos Santana signed a one year $2 Million deal with the Diamondbacks. The Yankees designated right-hander Dom Hamel for assignment. Mason Thompson got a minor league deal with the Rangers. The Red Sox claimed utility player Mickey Gasper off waivers from the Nationals. The Yankees will claim outfielder Yanquiel Fernandez off waivers from the Rockies. The Red Sox will sign Isiah Kiner-Falefa. The White Sox DFAd left-hander Bryan Hudson. The White Sox also signed outfielder Austin Hays to a one year deal worth $6 Million.

Mickey Lolich passed away at the age of 85. David Peralta announced his retirement.

Photo credit: Rex Fregosi

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Super Member

BannedInLA

1 month ago

I’d be hard pressed to think of a more SoCal (Angles) name than Chase Shores.

Super Member

Jim Atkins

1 month ago

Reply to BannedInLA

Friend of mine who is a writer wanted to name an OC character Lance Katella, Millionaire Playboy.

Super Member

HalosFanForLife

1 month ago

Another new sponsor landed.

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WallyChuckChili

1 month ago

Reply to HalosFanForLife

Angels Fans crowd sourced sponsored.

Trusted Member

grichmanpoorman

1 month ago

ESPN’s Top 10 org prospect lists came out… too GA to check but it seems like they just command-C’d the MLB list. Bremner/Guzman/Klassen, verse chorus verse.

Other org lists hold more goodies. LIke: WTF happened to Charlie Condon? Critical darling of the 2024 draft… today can’t crack the Top 200.

Editor

Legend

Turk's Teeth

1 month ago

Reply to grichmanpoorman

Condon broke his wrist going into the 2025 season, and struggled to recover through much of spring/summer, with elevated whiff and chase rates as he rehabbed and got healthier. He always had defensive limitations at 3B and OF, but Colorado nudged him to first base, so now he’s an all-or-nothing bat who needs to show he can mash again in a full healthy season.

He still makes the top 100 on multiple lists: #46 on Keith Law’s list, #70 at MLB Pipeline. Pretty uniformly rated as Colorado’s #2 prospect, but Colorado is also pretty uniformly rated as the worst farm and worst player development system in the MLB. Not an auspicious landing spot for a guy who could use coaching to refine his offspeed recognition.

Trusted Member

grichmanpoorman

1 month ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

Yeah. Checked out his 2025 numbers… they really weren’t THAT bad. Hit .230-something in AA with the power you’d expect and high OBP. I would definitely take him over, say, Tibbs.

Super Member

ryanfea

1 month ago

Osvaldo Bido claimed by the Yankees. Until the next time he’s DFA’d anyway

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gitchogritchoffmypettis

1 month ago

The Tigers and Valdez… THIS is what a team going “all in” looks like when it’s the right time to do it. The window is open stripey cats. Jump on in.

Super Member

2pints

1 month ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

Especially to have waited for his market to not develop and get him on a short deal. Nicely executed by Detroit.

Trusted Member

cookmeister

1 month ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

or it means they had a feeling they lost the Skubal arb case and are going to trade him

Editor

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Turk's Teeth

1 month ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

Feels like more than any other team, Detroit has a glide path to win their division. Twins and White Sox are stompable, Cleveland had a very underwhelming off-season, and KC admirably tries, but feels like a WC bubble team that needs a last minute miracle to go deep.

This is what a team that has one year of Skubal and a surging young offensive core should do.

Last edited 1 month ago by Turk's Teeth

Trusted Member

Biggiswrth

1 month ago

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/02/angels-sign-brent-suter-reliever.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Brent Suter aka Jamie Moyer bullpen 2.0 coming to Anaheim

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Pineapple12

1 month ago

Reply to Biggiswrth

You can kill the man, but not the idea

Loup ➡️ Chafin ➡️ Suter

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Senator_John_Blutarsky

1 month ago

Reply to Biggiswrth

He allegedly attended Harvard, but was not smart enough to avoid signing here?

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gitchogritchoffmypettis

1 month ago

Reply to Biggiswrth

I actually like Suter. It’s been fun watching batters try to hit him after facing Hunter Greene twice for the Reds. He’s corn on the cob. Not as exciting as a steak but makes the meal nice. That walk rate’s gonna be nice to watch after sitting through the various nibblers the Halos like to trot out of the pen.

All the old farts the teams added to the pen are fine with me. Developmental year + experienced old men who kids may learn from and we may eventually trade. It’s all just bland meh, but it beats “going for it”.

Super Member

2pints

1 month ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

Not sure this team’s defense is meant for a contact pitcher, but this is like #219 on the list of this team’s problems.

Super Member

BannedInLA

1 month ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

Corn on the cobb is killer when it’s cooked on the grill, otherwise, hard pass.

Let’s hope we’re getting the grilled version of Suter.

Editor

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Turk's Teeth

1 month ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

Count me in on Suter. Classic pitchability lefty.

Unlike other Minasian pick-ups, he has a long track continuous record of success, and even if he is the guy we saw in 2025 (4.08 xERA) that’s fine for a different-look middle reliever who stays healthy and eats innings.

I enjoyed this piece on his slo-mo FB a few years back:

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/brent-suter-the-slowest-unicorn/

Super Member

HalosFanForLife

1 month ago

I’m a traditionalist. I am. Very few rule changes I like. I still to this day get confused that the Seahawks are NFC and the Brewers are National League. But I sure like this idea.

Yankees
Mets
Red Sox
Blue Jays

Phillies
Nationals
Orioles
Charlotte

Braves
Marlins
Rays
Nashville

Pirates
Indians (yes, I know)
Reds
Tigers

Twins
Brewers
Cubs
White Sox

Royals
Cardinals
Rangers
Astros

Mariners
Rockies
A’s
D-Backs

Giants
Dodgers
Angels
Padres

Trusted Member

BruinsAngelsKings

1 month ago

Reply to HalosFanForLife

At least we remain the same bottom-feeder position that we have become accustomed to. 😥

Super Member

2pints

1 month ago

Reply to HalosFanForLife

should swap Giants and AZ if close proximity is the main goal, which this looks like it is.

Super Member

HalosFanForLife

1 month ago

Reply to 2pints

I had Arizona there first, but tried to keep the Giants/Dodgers and switched. Tough breaking up Cards/Cubs (but the Royals is a good swap for Cards) Cubs adding White Sox and Brewers is a good swap too. The NL East is a shame, but having those close rivals play more often will fill up seats and become even better rivalries. Philly/Orioles/Nationals would be great for them. I think ticket sales would have to rise with close proximity teams playing more often.

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gitchogritchoffmypettis

1 month ago

Reply to HalosFanForLife

Yeah man. That’s a good lookin plan there. I like that. And with balanced schedule, interleague etc it works. Why not? Only problem is, where do the Angels go when they move to the Austin/San Antonio market or SLC?

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steelgolf

1 month ago

Rhett says that some guy named Stephenson is healthy and ready for the season! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Over/under – 6 innings in 2026.

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Senator_John_Blutarsky

1 month ago

Reply to steelgolf

Even the former player known as “Rendon” is healthy and in the best shape of his life.

It’s the right of passage as the days grow longer and the frozen tundra starts to thaw. Following the example of the great media-saavy groundhog known as “Phil”, athletes around the globe make their annual proclamation of “great health”.

Their words are empty and signify nothing. Especially if they wear an Angels jersey.

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MarineLayer

1 month ago

Reply to steelgolf

I’ll take the under.

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gitchogritchoffmypettis

1 month ago

Reply to steelgolf

Here’s to three months of lights out pitching and a trade to a contender! Let’s go tear down!

Trusted Member

toad2065

1 month ago

Reply to steelgolf

The Man or the Myth? Give me the over. He doesn’t want to pitch for nothing next year!

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steelgolf

1 month ago

Reply to toad2065

Ohhhh, going all in!

Super Member

RexFregosi

1 month ago

Here are the NRIs
P
Shaun Anderson
Tyler Bremner
Chris Cortez
Jose Gonzalez
Austin Gordon
Joel Hurtado
George Klassen
Samy Natera Jr.
Angel Perdomo
Nick Sandlin
Tayler Saucedo
Chase Shores
Nate Snead
Huascar Ynoa
C
Juan Flores
Omar Martinez
Marlon Quintero
Sebastián Rivero
IF
Nick Madrigal
Trey Mancini
Yolmer Sánchez
Donovan Walton
OF
Gustavo Campero
Niko Kavadas
Wade Meckler
Nelson Rada
Raudi Rodriguez

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Pineapple12

1 month ago

Reply to RexFregosi

Bremner 😇!
(Assuming ST games are televised) I can’t wait to see Rada, Klassen, Cortez, Shores, Hurtado, Raudi, Flores, and Quintero.

Super Member

HalosFanForLife

1 month ago

Reply to Pineapple12

I am also looking forward to seeing if Nicky Two Strikes can rebound and reach his potential. I have a good feeling there. Biased, because I just like watching him play. We’ll all need some moral victories this year. And who can’t be pulling for Mancini?

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Pineapple12

1 month ago

Reply to HalosFanForLife

Backup infielder(s) will be an underrated camp battle imo — Grissom vs. Peraza vs. Guzman vs. Paris vs. Madrigal

Looking at the current 40-man and we still don’t have a backup 1st baseman 😂😂😂. Roster makes 0 sense.

Super Member

RexFregosi

1 month ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Peraza is listed as Schaunny’s back-up, also as Moore’s, on the team depth chart. He is the 3rd option at SS, after Neto and Guzman. Considering also he can’t go to SLC without waivers, I think you can write his name in pen for the Opening Day roster at this point

Super Member

Roy Hobbs

1 month ago

Reply to RexFregosi

Like he said, “Looking at the current 40-man and we still don’t have a backup 1st baseman”.

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MarineLayer

1 month ago

Reply to Roy Hobbs

Mancini would be a good platoon partner, but don’t seem room on the 26 man unless Soler goes away.

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Pineapple12

1 month ago

Reply to RexFregosi

You are probably correct but that still doesn’t make him an actual 1st baseman haha.

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gitchogritchoffmypettis

1 month ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Some of those dudes, like Shores and Snead, are likely just getting looked at by the big coaches as they get things going and then sent out to MiLB camp… though you never know, we had Johnson last year.