9:45am: The 2 sides are in settlement on a one-year cope with a membership choice for the 2026 season, reviews Jon Heyman of the New York Publish.
9:14am: The Angels are closing in on a cope with free agent infielder Kevin Newman, report Will Sammon and Sam Blum of The Athletic. The Angels just lately introduced that shortstop Zach Neto might miss the beginning of the 2025 season following shoulder surgical procedure.
Newman, 31, had a pleasant yr in a utility function with the Diamondbacks in 2024. The previous Pirates first-rounder hit .278/.311/.375 (89 wRC+) with plus protection at each center infield spots. He additionally logged temporary time at third base and within the outfield corners. He doesn’t present any energy (three homers, .097 ISO) or draw many walks (4.8%), however Newman additionally confirmed pesky contact abilities, fanning in solely 15.4% of his plate appearances. He’s a roughly common runner however has savvy sufficient instincts to have gone 30-for-35 in stolen base makes an attempt over the previous 4 seasons (85.7% success). Newman swiped eight baggage in every of the previous three seasons and peaked at a career-best 16 steals when he was given extra enjoying time with the Pirates in 2019.
Even within the occasion that Neto is prepared for Opening Day, Newman makes some sense as a pure bench choice for an Angels membership that’s missing any type of confirmed contributor. Former prime prospect Scott Kingery is presently in line to carry a bench function. The one different infield choices on the 40-man roster are Eric Wagaman, who debuted as a 27-year-old rookie in September, and former second-round decide Kyren Paris, who struggled immensely at Double-A, Triple-A and within the majors final season. Newman will add some obligatory depth and lift the workforce’s ground together with his observe file of fantastic glovework.
Newman may present the Halos with some depth within the occasion that oft-injured veteran Anthony Rendon once more requires an absence of size. Newman has been higher suited on the center infield spots than at third base, however the Halos might shift Luis Rengifo to the recent nook if Rendon misses time and plug Newman in at second in his place.
Whereas Newman doesn’t have a powerful observe file on the plate, he’s settled into a reasonably particular vary when it comes to offensive output over the previous three seasons. His 2024 output is an effective approximation of what to anticipate. Relationship again to 2022, he’s a .270/.313/.371 hitter in 873 plate appearances. It’s about 14% worse than common, by measure of wRC+, however when coupled with plus protection and above-average baserunning abilities it’s sufficient to make Newman a helpful function participant who may help any membership that’s brief on infield depth — an outline that presently suits the Angels to a tee.
