Stop me if this sounds familiar—the Angels and Braves have struck another deal. Perry Minasian, the Angels’ GM, seems to maintain close ties with his former organization, as he’s once again swooped in ahead of a potential Braves roster move. This time, the Angels have acquired reliever Angel Perdomo in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. While Perdomo didn’t fit into the Braves’ bullpen plans, he’s expected to solidify the Angels’ middle relief corps. To make room for Perdomo, the Angels designated Scott Kingery for assignment, clarifying their Opening Day infield strategy.
Perdomo missed the entire 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery but showed promise in 2023 during his 29 innings with Pittsburgh, striking out 44 batters and posting an impressive 37.6% strikeout rate. Standing at 6’8” and weighing 265 pounds, Perdomo’s size and deceptive pitching style make him a unique asset. His 6.9-foot extension in 2023 ranked in the 86th percentile among pitchers, adding to his effectiveness. Notably, Perdomo is out of minor league options, as are fellow left-handed relievers José Suarez, Garrett McDaniels, and José Quijada. Brock Burke, another lefty, is also out of options but is a lock for the roster. Suarez is likely to be designated for assignment.
The Angels now face a tough decision: they’ll need to part ways with one of McDaniels, Quijada, or Perdomo unless they option Reid Detmers, Jack Kochanowicz, or Chase Silseth to Triple-A. Sending down Silseth would leave the team with five left-handed relievers—an unusual strategy—while demoting Detmers could harm his confidence. Ryan Johnson, once in contention, now seems out of the running. As for Kingery, this move is a setback for his chances of making the big league roster, especially with the Angels’ infield uncertainties due to injuries to Yoán Moncada, Luis Rengifo, and the loss of Anthony Rendon for the season. Kingery was surpassed on the depth chart by Tim Anderson, Kyren Paris, Christian Moore, and even David Mershon. It remains to be seen if another team will claim him.
While the Angels’ bullpen didn’t appear to need more left-handed pitching, Minasian couldn’t resist dipping into the Braves’ roster once again. If it means sacrificing a versatile player like Kingery to add another lefty, so be it. Minasian’s affinity for his former organization continues to shine through—Braves for life!
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