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LA Angels Tuesday News Crash: Dark Horse

February 24, 2026

These are dark horse candidates to make opening day rosters. Jose Siri at center field is the pick for the Angels. I suspect “fourth outfielder” is more likely if Trout remains healthy.

The Giants signed right-hander Rowan Wick to a one year major league deal. They also signed Brent Honeywell to a minor league deal. Carson Fulmer got a minor league deal with the Pirates. Michael Conforto got a minor league deal with the Cubs. Thairo Estrada got his minor league deal with the Orioles.

Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly has mid-back tightness. Rockies right-hander Pierson Ohl will undergo Tommy John surgery. Marlins infielder Graham Pauley has the dreaded forearm tightness and has been shut down from baseball activities.

Photo credit: Rex Fregosi

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Legend

Pineapple12

41 minutes ago

Right-handed reliever Jared Southard has been invited to Major League camp. Southard, 25, posted a 3.68 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 66 innings between Double-A and Triple-A last year.

https://x.com/i/status/2026355487357252073

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EHC

1 hour ago

If this Teodosio guys wants to play full time, why don’t they bring in an old-timer to teach him to drop a bunt, slap the ball through the infield, put the ball in play, use his speed to leg out some hits? It was a very effective style of play for many successful major leaguers. I know Eckstein had a hell of a career doing these “small” ball things.

Let’s get some names: who would you guys bring in to teach these skills?

Legend

Senator_John_Blutarsky

40 minutes ago

Reply to EHC

Isn’t that the job of our illustrious hitting coach Anderson?

In addition, how can he progress through the ACC, Summer League, Cape Code and the Angels minor league system and not be taught basic hitting and “getting on base” skills?

Last edited 38 minutes ago by Senator_John_Blutarsky

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GrandpaBaseball

27 minutes ago

Reply to Senator_John_Blutarsky

Hitting, you wanta talk about HITTING, if this Teodosio could hit he be a heavyweight champ-oops, oh wait a second, I’ve got the wrong sport.

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

21 minutes ago

Reply to EHC

It’s tthhhhaaaaat easy! Just bring in old guy and poof!

I hope Teo learns this stuff too. It would be cool. But just getting Vince Coleman to put on some tight pants and stand there being grizzled and talking at him won’t do shit. If the answer was “get an old man to talk at him” there’d be far fewer old man ball players looking for work and a lot more two tool young players breaking out.

Bunting and slapping is harder than we interwebers give it credit for. Back in “my day” the average pitcher’s velo and breaking stuff was very meh compared to pitchers now and they played on turf more often. It was just different. But also, back in my day as a pitcher, it was pretty easy to take a hitter who is trying to bunt/slap and turn him into a guy that is behind in the count and one fastball away from a strike out most of the time. And I was just a middling good not quite prospect. Real MLB pitchers and defenses? It’s not gonna work as often as we hope.

On the bright side, last year, it seemed like Bryce actually is a slap hitter who squares around pretty often. I recall him pulling it off a couple times I think….

Super Member

ryanfea

2 hours ago

The Rockies half of the split squad is available on mlb.tv for those interested. Sadly not the game Trout is playing, but at least we have some live action

Editor

Super Member

Turk's Teeth

2 hours ago

Saw some fan commentary in yesterday’s GT suggesting it’s imperative to ditch the Detmers rotation experiment already.

Not being able to watch the game, I didn’t see Reid pitch. Was that just an overreaction to his first two innings – or was there something more to it? Seemed like he had a clean second inning, velocity was within norms, but couldn’t locate vs the first few batters, so was down two runs early. Pretty normal malfunction for a first ST outing, but maybe I’m missing something.

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Super Member

Charles Sutton

2 hours ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

I think it is a little early to pull the plug considering the Angels depth chart at starting pitching. It’s time for Maddux to become the Detmers whisperer.

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Super Member

Turk's Teeth

2 hours ago

Reply to Charles Sutton

Yes, I mean, starting off your first spring training outing with a walk and a tater can happen to anyone really – he could have been focused on a single pitch, a grip, his delivery, who knows. That his velocity was in career bounds and he had a clean second inning seems more informative than the first two batters he faced.

Legend

Pineapple12

2 hours ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

Game wasn’t televised so I doubt there was any real analysis behind those comments.

There’s no reason to pull the plug on Detmers as a starter. If he continues to avoid using his CU or develop a 4th pitch, a permanent move to the bullpen will eventually happen.

Last edited 2 hours ago by Pineapple12

Super Member

ryanfea

2 hours ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

I think it’s just an early emotional response. It is clear to me though if one or more of Detmers, Rodriguez or Manoah don’t work out, we may be in trouble. I don’t trust that 2nd tier of rotation depth. Maybe George Klassen ends up in the Majors sooner than later.

Legend

Pineapple12

2 hours ago

Reply to ryanfea

I’m feeling Dana gets 10+ starts. He’s my pick for a 2026 breakout

Super Member

HalosFanForLife

2 hours ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

I think it’s just venting. Granted, it was poetic for the offseason to see him down 2-0 so fast. Definitely too early to tell. Way too early to tell.

Editor

Super Member

Turk's Teeth

2 hours ago

Reply to HalosFanForLife

Fwiw, Yamamoto gave up three hits and two runs vs the punchless Angels in his first outing. Looked ace one inning, completely hittable the next.

It’s February.

Last edited 2 hours ago by Turk's Teeth

Super Member

HalosFanForLife

2 hours ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

Sure I’d like a clean outing, but a lot of people don’t realize that pitchers go out with different initiatives. Sometimes they are just working on finding their release point. Sometimes they are working on a small mechanical change or a grip change or a new pitch or slant to an existing pitch. The first two or three weeks don’t matter. I’d say this is especially true with a new pitching coach in the mix.

Last edited 2 hours ago by HalosFanForLife

Super Member

HalosFanForLife

2 hours ago

Reply to HalosFanForLife

I just saw you basically said the same thing below. lol

Editor

Super Member

Turk's Teeth

1 hour ago

Reply to HalosFanForLife

Yep, exactly – was the point of my comment – game outcomes in spring are pretty meaningless, and are telling of little until the final week or two, when players are in game form.

Otoh, if a spring outing reveals an injury or conditioning issue, that’s something to know about.

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

2 hours ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

You’re missing feelz. Does it make absolutely no sense to abandon your plan for Detmers after two ST innings? Probably. But if you combine a fair amount of stupidity with a generous dollop of man tantrum it becomes a great idea.

We’ll likely know if he can stick in the rotation or not by what? His 4th ST start? It’s likely not even results based, more if he hold velo etc through 90 pitches

Legend

steelgolf

3 hours ago

Split squad games today. Over/Under for the TOTAL of runs scored by by both Angels split squad teams combined. I’m going to set the number at 3.

Super Member

HalosFanForLife

3 hours ago

Reply to steelgolf

I’ll take the over. Wouldn’t probably take 4 though. LOL

Editor

Legend

Jeff Joiner

3 hours ago

It is Siri vs. Teodosio for the final outfield spot. Both play great defense, neither hits worth a lick.

Siri has shown power in the past.

But Teodosio is already on the roster and doesn’t require a move to be made.

Loser goes to Salt Lake City as depth.

Super Member

HalosFanForLife

3 hours ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

Give me the worst hitter. We’ll get more ping-pong balls and have earlier picks later.

Legend

Senator_John_Blutarsky

3 hours ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

If fan safety at the ballpark is the priority, you can’t go wrong with either, since both would miss a beachball if it were pitched underhanded.

Legend

Fansince1971

3 hours ago

Reply to Senator_John_Blutarsky

Siri might be better for that purpose due to fans being able to ask Siri to call 911.

Editor

Super Member

Turk's Teeth

2 hours ago

Reply to Senator_John_Blutarsky

Perhaps leading the MLB in Ks last season was by design after all. The best way to maximize fan safety is to ensure that the ball never enters the field of play, lest it leave it and injure someone.

Super Member

TrojanBoiler

2 hours ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

I wish Teo could just do enough to get that hitting up to like an 80 OPS+ and then we could just let him man center full time. Games are more exciting when he is out there flying around.

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

2 hours ago

Reply to TrojanBoiler

Me too. It is was fun watching the other outfielders adjust to him being there. They’d be cruising to their left or right to get a fly ball, catch it, and then realize Teodosio is right behind them. They’d have this look like “oh shit, how’d you get there?”

If he could just make himself a viable #9 hitter in the MLB his aggressiveness on the base paths and CF defense will make him fun to have for sure.