It isn’t even September yet and the Angels have already begun raiding their minor league system, the bountiful rich resource that it is, for roster reinforcements. As such, we better preview the Angels September call-ups now before the Halos run through them all first.
The Not-Really-Call-Up Call-Ups
Matt Joyce – Yeah, that’s right, we may not have seen the last of Matt Joyce. The team has made a point of sending him out on rehab instead of just DFAing him. The Angels likely see him as a left-handed power bat to pinch-hit a few times down the stretch and realize that they gain nothing other than brief satisfaction by dumping Joyce now. That probably speaks more to the lack of power bat options in the Angels system than it does Joyce himself, but at least it is a role. A DFA isn’t off the table though as Joyce is a prime candidate to get kicked to the curb if the Halos decide they’d rather use his roster spot on an actual prospect.
Collin Cowgill – Like Joyce, Cowgill isn’t actually a call-up since he’s on rehab, but he’ll be “on rehab” until September 1st when he will magically be all healed up. Alas, his former role has been usurped by Shane Victorino, but if Victorino goes full Shanf over the next two weeks, maybe Scioscia falls back to his Cowgill security blanket as the right-handed part of the left field platoon and limits Victorino to pinch-running duty.
Taylor Featherston – Taylor is “hurt” right now and on the DL. He probably won’t even go out on rehab before his 15 days on the DL “coincidentally” end on September 1st when he will be activated and resume his old role of being a defensive replacement and pinch-runner. The only difference is that Featherston will probably spend more time spelling Giavotella at second than Freese at third now that Cowart is on board. I don’t think anyone will have a problem with that, well, other than Giavotella.
Cory Rasmus – Rasmus also recently joined the ranks on the DL due to forearm problems. It is a place he is familiar with thanks to an abdominal injury that cost him most of the first half of the season. If the injury clears up, Rasmus will join the pen and be a heavily used multi-inning reliever. However, his injury is the kind that sounds like a precursor to Tommy John surgery, so it might be more likely that Rasmus gets transferred to the 60-day DL to clear a spot on the 40-man.
Actually Useful Call-Ups
Nick Tropeano – Tropeano already got called up prematurely to join the rotation, so he probably shouldn’t be on the list, but he also might need to be on the list. If he performs well in his start today, the Angels will probably let him hang around. If not, then he might return to Triple-A only to get recalled again a few days later and become a spot starter/longman instead. Really though, his main role is to showcase himself as trade bait this offseason.
Matt Shoemaker – Technically, Shoemaker is a call-up but it feels weird to call him one since he has spent all but a few days on the 25-man roster. He’s making a start for the Bees this weekend and might be able to convince the club to recall him if he makes the necessary mechanical adjustments, but more likely is that he stays in the minors until September and comes back to the Angels as a swingman/beard model.
Efren Navarro – Efren is gonna come back! Scioscia loves Efren! Everyone loves Efren’s walk-up music! He wasn’t good enough to hold down left field or DH, but Efren is a nice pinch-hitting option and a guy that Scioscia trusts. He also is sure to see some time replacing Cron for defense late in game where Pujols slides into the DH spot.
Wesley Wright – Wright isn’t on the 40-man roster, but he will be because he’s left-handed and the Angels could use a third lefty in the ‘pen, especially since Cesar Ramos looks like garbage lately. Basically, something is wrong with Ramos, so they need to get Wright. I’ll give you a second to let that one sink in…. We good? OK. Wright actually has a pretty solid MLB track record and has acquitted himself nicely in his brief tenure in Triple-A, so he could end up being the most utilized player on this entire list.
Mike Morin – Morin was recently called up only to never be used before getting demoted again, so I guess he is still in line to be a September call-up. Morin spent plenty of time in the majors this year, but went to the DL and when he came back he realized that he must’ve forgotten to pack his fastball command. He doesn’t look to have found it in the minors, but if he does locate it, he could be a real middle relief factor.
Gary Brown – Brown is basically a slightly less weird-looking version of Tony Campana. The Angels could add him to the 40-man roster and have him be the go-to pinch-runner who never ever touches a bat. While he’s very fast, he isn’t a prolific base stealer, so the Halos might forego adding him and just rely on Victorino and Featherston for pinch-running duties instead.
Pure Depth Call-Ups
Rafael Lopez – The Angels are going to need a third catcher and Lopez looks to be in line for that gig. He hasn’t done anything special in Triple-A, but he’s got a tiny bit of MLB experience already and he’s left-handed, so there are some platoon advantage opportunities to be exploited there.
Jett Bandy – Bandy has actually been quite impressive in Triple-A, so he could leapfrog Lopez on the depth chart because of his higher offensive upside and superior defense. It is highly possible that the Angels will call both of them up since Scioscia loves his catchers, but mostly because it will free Scioscia up to pinch-hit and pinch-run for his backstops without worrying about roster depth. Really though, MOAR CATCHERZ!!!
Drew Rucinski – Rucinski has already been up with the Angels a few times and failed each and every single one of those times, surely the Angels will go back for more because they are gluttons for punishment. Drew figures to be a last resort mop-up man but he might also get DFA’d to make room on the 40-man for one of the call-ups that isn’t currently on the roster.
Kyle Kubitza – Well, this is awkward. Two months ago it looked like Kubitza had a shot to come up and steal time in September from David Freese. A month ago it looked like he could come up and steal time in left field. Now he’s been surpassed on the third base depth chart by Cowart and supplanted in left field by all the guys the Angels traded for. The Angels really don’t even have a reason to call Kubitza up other than it would be kind of embarrassing for the kid if they didn’t promote him.
Grant Green – In theory, Green is being called up as infield depth with offensive talent. In practice, he’s coming up to be ignored by Scioscia. Green is the leader in the clubhouse (literally IN the clubhouse) to be the guy who gets a September call-up and gets five or fewer plate appearances the entire month. This is really just all part of a long, elaborate Punk’d episode in which the Angels submarine Grant Green’s potential MLB career.
Alfredo Marte – Marte is back on the 40-man roster but he still probably isn’t going to get a real look. He’ll have a role in September because he’s a potential right-handed bat with some pop off the bench, but the Halos have so many other outfield options that it is hard to see how he could get much time. He is also a DFA candidate.
Daniel Robertson – Robertson got his shot already and failed to do anything impressive with it, but he probably did just enough to avoid the DFA ax. Now he’s going to get to hang out, collect splinters in his butt and maybe pinch-run once in awhile.
Potential Feet-Wetter Call-Ups
Nate Smith – Smith isn’t a highly regarded prospect, but he’s pitched so well the last few years that he should be in line for a token “good for you” call-up where he joins the Angels but barely gets used. He might even get a spot start late in the year if the Angels fall out of the Wild Card race but we are going to just pretend like that isn’t a realistic scenario.
Alex Yarbrough – Coming into this year, Yarbrough was on track to be the starting second baseman for the Angels in 2016. Leaving this year, Alex pretty much fell on his face in Salt Lake but he could get a call-up as a confidence booster of sorts. That’s probably not going to happen though.
Danny Reynolds – Reynolds is a reliever on the 40-man roster which is probably all it will take for him to get a call-up since the back-end of the bullpen is still so unsettled. Reynolds hasn’t been great for Arkansas, but he’s been good enough to be promoted. Keep in mind though that the Travs might actually make the Texas League playoffs, so there could be a delay before Reynolds or any of his teammates get the call-up.
Eduard Santos – Now Santos has been very good for the Travs. He has given up more walks (26) than hits (25), which tells you how much trouble he has not walking guys but how much trouble batters have making contact against him. His huge 65 strikeout total tells us a lot about that latter part too. He’s exactly the kind of wild card arm the Angels would want to take a chance on next month.
Greg Mahle – Mahle impressed the Angels during training camp and has continued being impressive in the minors this season. He’s been a little hittable, but he’s also been used as a closer rather than a lefty specialist. With his sidearm action, he could be an interesting LOOGY option for the Angels behind the more established guys on the depth chart.
Sherman Johnson – This might just be wishcasting on my part because I heart Sherman. He’s barely hitting above the Mendoza line in Double-A, but he draws a ton of walks, is an uber-efficient base stealer and plays a bunch of defensive positions at a high level. I want him on the Angels so much and I want it now. In reality, he’s a more realistic bench option next season, but maybe he gets a call-up this season just to get a preview of what big league life is like.
Dream On Call-Ups
Sean Newcomb – Guys, this isn’t going to happen. I know the Angels are leaving the door open to it, but this is a bad idea. For starters, Newk has some serious command issues that he needs to work on before he gets a call up. He also probably should have his innings limited. This is the most precious asset in the Angels farm system and risking it over eight innings of relief work strikes me as reckless. Finally, it starts his service clock a tick early. For a guy that’s not going to be fully ready until mid-2016 at the earliest, that’s just not necessary.
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