The Angels have added another arm to the mix, claiming right-hander Trevor Martin off waivers from the Rays and sending him to Triple-A Salt Lake. Because Los Angeles already had an open spot on its 40-man roster, no corresponding move was needed.
Martin, 25, reached the majors with Tampa Bay earlier this year and logged six appearances for the club. In 11 1/3 innings, he allowed eight runs, five of them earned, while striking out seven and walking four. He also hit two batters and gave up four home runs.
The raw stuff has been there. Martin averaged 95 mph on his four-seam fastball and got whiffs on the pitch at nearly a 40% clip.
The problem was everything else. His secondary pitches didn’t miss enough bats, and when opponents connected, they did damage.
At Triple-A, though, the profile has looked stronger. Martin has produced a 25% strikeout rate and a 26.2% hard-hit rate this season, showing more ability to miss bats and keep the ball from being squared up. Even so, he had several rough outings for the Durham Bulls in July and August, and those struggles, combined with his uneven major league showing, pushed Tampa Bay to designate him for assignment earlier this week.
For the Angels, the claim fits the moment. Martin has long shown intriguing stuff in the minors, even if his secondary offerings still need work. And with the worst record in the majors, Los Angeles can keep him on the 40-man roster, let him develop at Triple-A, and take another look in the big leagues without needing to be precious about the outcome.
In Other News...
Nolan Schanuel Just Gave The Angels Lineup A Needed Reminder
Nolan Schanuels day at Angel Stadium was a reminder of why the Angels keep leaning on his bat. He drove in four runs against the Royals, including a three-run double and an RBI single, and his steady approach at the plate continues to stand out in a lineup that has needed more consistent production. Through this season, Schanuel remains the clubs batting average leader at .273, a sign that his contact skills are still carrying real weight in the middle of the order.
The bigger picture for the Angels is that one strong offensive night still has to be paired with cleaner pitching and more complete execution to turn into a win. Grayson Rodriguez struggled on the mound, and the game slipped away in a 7-6 loss even with Schanuel doing his part. Manager Kurt Suzuki and Schanuel both pointed back to the teams offensive approach, and the question now is whether this kind of production can become the norm rather than a brief reminder. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Turn To A Veteran Arm As Bullpen Pressure Builds
The Angels added a familiar veteran arm to the major league roster, selecting right-hander Michael Fulmer as they continue searching for help in a bullpen that has needed more stability. Fulmer had been pitching well in Triple-A and gives the club another experienced option after working his way back from elbow surgery.
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Angels moved catcher Sebastian Rivero to the 60-day injured list and sent left-hander Sammy Peralta to Triple-A. It is the sort of roster shuffling that often comes with a late-season bullpen squeeze, but the bigger question is how quickly Fulmer can fit into the mix and whether he can give the Angels the kind of reliability they have been chasing. [Read more 🡒]