The Angels have designated right-hander Jacob Webb for assignment, per a team announcement. Left-hander Kenny Rosenberg was selected to the roster in a corresponding move. J.P. Hoornstra of the Orange County Register was first with the news.
Webb, 30 later this month, made his MLB debut with the Braves back in 2019. Over 32 1/3 innings in his debut season, Webb impressed with a 1.39 ERA, but a roughly league-average 4.30 FIP indicated some good fortune baked into those results. His ratios normalized somewhat over his next two seasons of work with the Braves, as he posted a 3.25 ERA and 3.76 FIP in 42 appearances between the 2020 and 2021 campaigns.
That solid track record seemed to leave Webb poised to play a role in the Atlanta bullpen as a useful relief arm with options remaining, but he struggled badly in the minors during the 2022 campaign, with a 6.06 ERA in 35 2/3 innings at the Triple-A level as Webb was shuffled between the Braves and Diamondbacks organizations. That performance led to him being outrighted off the club’s roster in June, allowing him to elect free agency last November. Shortly thereafter, Webb inked a minors deal with the Angels, bringing him to his third organization of the calendar year. He was selected to the major league roster back in May and pitched fairly well in 29 appearances with the Angels this season, posting a 3.98 ERA in 31 2/3 innings of work, but his walk rate, which stood at a 9.6% figure for his career entering the 2023 campaign, spiked to a concerning 14.3%.
Going forward, the Angels will have seven days to waive or release Webb. In the event he clears waivers, the Angels will have the opportunity to outright Webb to Triple-A, but as a player previously outrighted in his career, he’ll have the opportunity to reject that assignment and test free agency. While the command issues Webb has faced this season are certainly cause for concern, the right-hander could nonetheless be an interesting option for a team looking to add to its bullpen depth.
Webb’s roster spot will go to Rosenberg, a 28-year-old southpaw who made his MLB debut with the Angels last year, tossing 10 2/3 innings with a 4.22 ERA and 4.52 FIP. This will be Rosenberg’s first appearance in the big leagues this season, as he’s operated as a starter at the Triple-A level to this point in the season. His 4.93 ERA certainly leaves something to be desired, but that figure is inflated by the heightened offensive environment of the Pacific Coast League. Rosenberg has punched out 27.8% of the batters he’s faced this season while walking 10.7%. He figures to be a multi-inning relief option for the Angels going forward, a role he’ll share with Jaime Barria.
More must-reads: