A key member of the Angels’ middle infield will likely be out until July, as David Fletcher underwent surgery on both adductor muscles. In this article from Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com, Angels head trainer Mike Frostad explained the procedure, which also repaired Fletcher’s abdominal muscles. “We’re hoping he’ll be back within a couple months,” noted Frostad. Fletcher initially tried cortisone shots, but they did not suffice.
At the moment, the Angels sit atop the AL West, one game ahead of the Astros. The club is riding high this morning after Reid Detmers shocked the world with the 12th no-hitter in franchise history, and Anthony Rendon provided entertainment by turning around left-handed to swat a home run off Brett Phillips.
Thus far, the Angels have mainly featured Andrew Velazquez at shortstop and Tyler Wade at second base, with the second base mix also including Jack Mayfield and Matt Duffy. As a November waiver claim who was not able to crack the Angels’ Opening Day roster, the 27-year-old Velazquez is an unlikely candidate to start at shortstop for a playoff team. Wade, picked up in a minor trade that same month, has also generally been considered a bench player. Fletcher was something of a question mark in his own right before the surgery, as he’s posted a 69 wRC+ in 706 plate appearances dating back to 2021. Naturally, the Halos may eventually turn to the trade market this summer for reinforcements.
With the Red Sox disappointing in the early going and holding playoff odds below 23 percent, the availability of shortstop Xander Bogaerts could become a key summer storyline. Bogaerts is widely expected to exercise his opt-out clause after the season, and the Sox made only a token attempt to extend him. Other shortstops who might be available include Kyle Farmer, Elvis Andrus, Paul DeJong, Alcides Escobar, Didi Gregorius, and Kevin Newman. The Braves’ Dansby Swanson is in his contract year, but that club still has playoff odds over 70 percent according to FanGraphs. At second base, the Angels could consider Cesar Hernandez, Jonathan Schoop, Jean Segura, Adam Frazier, Rougned Odor, and Tony Kemp.
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