Perry Minasian’s time running the Angels came with plenty of misses, but one waiver claim is starting to look like a genuine gift to the next front office.
That player is Wade Meckler.
Back in late December of last year, the Giants designated Meckler for assignment and exposed him to waivers. The Angels, looking for outfield depth and a little more contact in a lineup that had just led the majors in strikeouts, moved quickly and claimed the Orange County native.
At the time, it looked like a sensible depth play. Now it looks a lot better than that.
Meckler’s path since then has been anything but linear. The Angels later designated him for assignment in January to create 40-man flexibility, but he cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Salt Lake. He forced his way back by hitting in the minors, earned a contract selection in May 2026, and has turned that opportunity into a standout season.
What he’s giving the Angels now is exactly what they needed: defense and contact.
Sports Info Solutions named Meckler a Defensive Player of the Month, and his glove has backed that up with results. The defensive showcase included a highlight-reel home run robbery against the Phillies.
The award, though, was about more than one flash play. In August, Meckler was credited with six defensive runs saved, the kind of steady work that helps keep runs off the board while the rest of the outfield has made life harder on the pitching staff.
Offensively, he fits the top of the lineup cleanly. Meckler has the second-highest on-base percentage on the team at .368, trailing only Trout’s .377, but he gets there in a very different way.
He strikes out far less often and brings much better speed on the bases. Against right-handed pitching, he stands out as the Angels’ best option to hit leadoff.
There’s a bigger picture here, too. Minasian’s tenure was defined by obvious flaws - most notably, the inability to build a quality bullpen and a draft approach that leaned too heavily toward immediate need instead of overall talent. But he also leaves behind some real pieces, including Walbert Urena, George Klassen, and several notable prospects on the farm.
Meckler belongs in that group of useful leftovers, even if he arrived in a quieter way than the prospects did. A plus defender who fills a real offensive role is a strong return on a waiver claim, and the Angels deserve credit for giving the Esperanza High School product a chance to prove himself at the highest level.
As his game keeps trending up and he becomes more of a crowd favorite, the story feels pretty simple: Perry Minasian had his share of failures, but Wade Meckler may end up being his best parting gift to the franchise.
In Other News...
Reid Detmers Just Put The Angels On A Tougher Long Term Path
The Angels had a real decision in front of them at the 2026 trade deadline, and they chose the one that pointed further down the road. While Jose Soriano brought back a significant return, Reid Detmers stayed put, a sign that the club still sees value in holding on to a pitcher who has been one of its better arms in the second half with a 1.52 ERA. He is also under team control through 2028, which only adds to the appeal for a team that knows how hard it is to find reliable pitching.
Detmers' future now becomes part of a bigger Angels question: build around him, or cash in later if the organization shifts direction. A change in ownership or management philosophy could alter how aggressively the club thinks about extensions versus trades, and Detmers is exactly the kind of asset that can fit either timeline. For now, the Angels have chosen patience, but the longer he keeps pitching like this, the tougher the eventual choice becomes. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Rotation Search Could Lead To A Fascinating Winter Battle
Kaima Tairas latest start in Saitama drew more than local attention, with multiple MLB clubs, including the Angels, in the stands to watch the Seibu Lions pitcher work. For a team that could use every avenue to strengthen its rotation, that kind of scouting trip is another sign that the Angels are casting a wide net this winter and keeping an eye on arms that might fit beyond the usual domestic market.
Tairas rise has made him a name to monitor. After moving from closer to starter in Japan, he has put up strong numbers in NPB and started to look like a legitimate candidate for a jump to MLB, but the process has not advanced to the point of a posting or any formal move. For now, the interest is real, the fit is easy to understand and the waiting is part of the story. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Just Hit Another Brutal Point In A Lost Season
A rough night at Fenway Park only deepened the frustration for the Angels, who fell 5-2 to the Red Sox in the series opener and never found a way to get much going against Brayan Bello. Bostons starter worked five scoreless innings, while Los Angeles handed the ball to Grayson Rodriguez and quickly found itself chasing the game after he ran into trouble early.
The bigger blow, though, came in the standings, where the loss sealed another year without October baseball for a club that has been stuck in that familiar position for too long. It was the 12th straight season the Angels were officially out of playoff contention, and with a road series already off to a discouraging start, there was little in this one to suggest the reset they need is coming anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]