The Los Angeles Angels officially announced the signing of outfielder Brett Phillips to a one-year, $1.2 million contract. In order to make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Austin Warren was designated for assignment.
Phillips began the 2022 season with the Tampa Bay Rays but was traded to the Baltimore Orioles at the deadline. He appeared at all three outfield positions, but hit a combined .144/.217/.249 with six doubles, five home runs and 15 RBI in 83 games.
Phillips had spent parts of the previous three seasons with the Rays and was a member of their 2020 American League Championship team. He most notably delivered the walk-off hit in the Rays’ Game 4 World Series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Prior to that, Phillips played for the Kansas City Royals (2018-20) and Milwaukee Brewers (2017-18). He was originally selected by the Houston Astros in the sixth round of the 2012 MLB Draft.
Over parts of six big league campaigns, Phillips is batting .188/.273/.348 with 24 doubles, nine triples, 28 home runs, 93 RBI and 36 stolen bases in 354 games.
Phillips bolsters the Angels’ outfield depth and will likely be fourth or fifth on the depth chart. He figures to receive occasional starts against right-handed pitching, but most of his value will come on the defensive side.
Phillips is the Angels’ sixth Major League acquisition this offseason. The team previously signed All-Star starting pitcher Tyler Anderson, reliever Carlos Estévez and infielder Brandon Drury, while acquiring slugging outfielder Hunter Renfroe and infielder Gio Urshela in trades.
The Angels have seven days to trade Warren after designating him for assignment. If they are unable to make a deal, the 26-year-old could either accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Salt Lake or elect for free agency.
Warren struggled in his limited opportunity at the Major League level this past season, posting a 5.63 ERA, 5.36 FIP and 1.50 WHIP over 16 innings of work (14 games).
Warren found success the previous year, however, going 3-0 with a 1.77 ERA, 2.09 FIP and 1.03 WHIP in 20.1 innings pitched (16 appearances).
Brandon Drury became a ‘die-hard Angels fan’ as a child
One of the more underrated signings this offseason was the acquisition of Drury on a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels.
His breakout season in 2022 made him a hot name during last year’s trade deadline, and the San Diego Padres were aggressive to acquire him with his .855 on-base plus slugging featuring 20 home runs before the trade.
This past year was the culmination of his hard work and dedication to MLB, and after growing up an Angels fan, he recalled his family’s fond memories of rooting for the team in the early 2000s.
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