Angels sign 27-year old World Series champion flamethrower with strong ties to Kurt Suzuki originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Angels have had a very interesting offseason, to say the least, beginning with the way they approached their managerial hire. Instead of choosing Torii Hunter or Albert Pujols, they opted for Kurt Suzuki — a move that could very well be a one-year rental.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“It began with the manager. Many observers had Albert Pujols on their bingo card to lead the Halos into 2026, with Torii Hunter as Plan B, and the front office did indeed go with an ex-player with zero coaching experience... just not one that most people had predicted. Kurt Suzuki may turn out to be exactly what he felt like on first glance - a cheaper, more malleable choice, less likely to butt heads with Perry Minasian and Arte Moreno. Certainly, his one-year contract was no vote of confidence, and it leaves the door open for yet another U-turn in a year’s time,” Halo Hangout’s Jeremy Elwood wrote.
On Saturday, the Angels signed former World Series champion Huascar Ynoa to a minor-league deal.
“Per CHarris731, the Angels have signed former Braves prospect and flamethrower, Huascar Ynoa to a minor league deal. Ynoa, 27, has a career 5.22 ERA in 122.1 IP at the big league level. He hasn't pitched in the majors since 2022 after having TJ in September of '22. He spent all of '23 recovering before coming back in '24 where he ran into some elbow issues which limited his season,” Insider Halos posted.
Ynoa was in the Atlanta Braves farm system while Suzuki was with the major-league team, giving the two a prior connection that may have helped lead to this opportunity.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBefore the injuries, Ynoa was a dominant pitcher for the Braves. Since then, he hasn’t been the same, but the Angels are still searching for a major offseason move, even after the Taylor Ward trade.
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