Angels Maintain Stability At Catcher With New Max Stassi Deal

Originally posted on The Cold Wire | By Curt Bishop | Last updated 3/25/22

The Los Angeles Angels gave their 31-year-old catcher Max Stassi a three-year contract extension on Thursday night.

In doing so, the Angels have maintained a level of stability at the catcher position, as Stassi will be their guy for the next couple of years.

The contract is worth $17.5 million in total.

Stassi will earn $3 million in 2022 and $7 million in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

The contract includes a $7.5 million club option for the 2025 season that also comes with a $500K buyout, according to MLB Trade Rumors.

Stassi posted a 1.8 WAR in 2021, hitting for a .241 batting average and popping 13 home runs in 87 games.

He also drove in 35 runs.

Very significant Angels news. Max Stassi, 31, extended three years, and giving the team a longer-term starting catcher. https://t.co/k6ZemBwXDc

— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) March 25, 2022

A Key Contributor

If Stassi can stay healthy, this is a good move for the Angels.

When he’s healthy, he can be a solid run-producer for Los Angeles.

But that will be the key for him over the next few years.

In any case, the Angels, who appear to have taken a large step towards contention in 2022, now have their catcher for the next few seasons.

If healthy, Stassi should play a key role in the Angels’ success going forward.

He’ll be behind the plate when their top two starting pitchers, Shohei Ohtani and Noah Syndergaard, tow the rubber, and if Syndergaard can bounce back and return to his former self, Stassi will be instrumental in that.

Stassi also has some pop in his bat, which should help boost a lineup that consists of Ohtani, Mike Trout, and Anthony Rendon.

We’ll see if the move pans out for the Angels.

Again, the key is whether or not Stassi can stay healthy and off of the injured list.

If healthy, the deal should work out just fine.

This article first appeared on The Cold Wire and was syndicated with permission.

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