Angels designate veteran righty for assignment

The Los Angeles Angels announced Sunday afternoon that they’ve designated right-hander Connor Brogdon for assignment. Righty Jose Fermin was called up from Triple-A in the corresponding roster move.

Los Angeles signed Brogdon to an offseason minors deal that was selected to the active roster in early May, and the reliever has posted a 5.30 ERA, 10.1% walk rate and 20.9% strikeout rate across 37 1/3 bullpen innings. That low strikeout rate came despite some solid chase and whiff rates, and Brogdon recaptured his past fastball velocity by averaging 95.5 mph on his heater. Unfortunately, opposing batters made lots of hard and heavy contact against Brogdon, as he allowed seven home runs during his 37 1/3 frames.

Since Brogdon is out of minor league options, the Angels had to designate him for assignment to remove him from the active roster. It is possible another team in need of bullpen help could make a claim given how reinforcements are harder to find post-trade deadline, but Brogdon’s lack of production might not entice many teams. Since he has been outrighted before in his career, Brogdon can choose free agency if he clears waivers and is outrighted off the Angels’ 40-man roster.

Considering how Brogdon was plagued by plantar fasciitis in 2024, getting back to good health at least represents one silver lining to his 2025 season. The right-hander posted good numbers in Philadelphia’s bullpen in 2021-22 before running into some struggles in 2023, and he pitched in only four Major League games last year (three with the Phillies, one with the Dodgers).