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The Angels have re-signed catcher Chad Wallach to a minor league contract, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports (X link). Wallach entered free agency after being outrighted off the Halos’ 40-man roster following the season, and it is safe to guess that his new minors deal contains an invitation to Spring Training.
It is the second catcher signing in as many days for Los Angeles, as Francisco Mejia was also added on a minors contract yesterday. Logan O’Hoppe is set to be the Angels’ starting catcher and Matt Thaiss has the inside track on the backup job, but Mejia and Wallach will provide some veteran competition and depth in Spring Training. Since Thaiss also has some experience as a corner infielder, the Halos could even consider carrying three catchers on the Opening Day roster, depending on how the rest of their offseason dealings play out.
Wallach is a known quantity in Anaheim, first joining the organization after being claimed off waivers from the Dodgers in August 2021. The Angels have outrighted Wallach off the roster four times, and this marks the second straight offseason that Wallach had elected free agency and then re-signed with the organization.
Wallach’s defense and reputation as a quality game-caller have led to a seven-year Major League career, consisting of 155 career games and 443 plate appearances with the Reds, Marlins and Angels from 2017-23. Due to the Angels’ catching injuries last season, Wallach set new career highs in both games played (65) and PA (172), though he didn’t deliver much at the plate. Over his 443 career PA, Wallach has hit .198/.263/.328 with 11 home runs — seven of those dingers came in 2023.
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White Sox release former All-Star pitcher
The White Sox have released right-handers Noah Syndergaard and Penn Murfee. Syndergaard’s release was announced on Sunday, while Murfee’s MLB.com profile page indicates he was let go on Friday. Syndergaard signed a minor league deal with Chicago in late June, which marked his first contract with any team since he was released by the Guardians in August 2023. Despite some interest from teams during the 2023-24 offseason, Syndergaard ended up not pitching anywhere in 2024, so the Sox started him off with some rookie ball outings just to get acclimated back to game action before reporting to Triple-A Charlotte. Syndergaard had a 2.93 ERA over his 15 1/3 frames of Rookie League work, but then was hit hard for a 10.13 ERA over two outings and eight innings at the Triple-A level. The ugly numbers in Charlotte included only two strikeouts and a rather incredible five homers allowed. While eight innings is obviously a small sample size, it was enough for the White Sox to decide to move on from Syndergaard, putting the former All-Star at yet another career crossroads. Syndergaard turns 33 later this month, and it is fair to wonder if retirement could be a possibility. Despite his past pedigree, the amount of time it took for him to land even a minor league contract could indicate that evaluators simply doubt he can ever regain any of his past effectiveness. A frontline member of the Mets’ pitching staff during his prime years, Syndergaard has never really recovered from a Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for virtually all of the 2020-21 season. He pitched decently well in posting a 3.94 ERA over 134 2/3 innings for the Angels and Phillies in 2022, but rather than approach his old form or at least settle in at a mid-rotation arm, Syndergaard regressed in the form of a 6.50 ERA in 88 2/3 frames with the Dodgers and Guardians in 2023. Murfee is another pitcher whose career was interrupted by a major arm injury. After posting a 2.70 ERA for the Mariners in his first 83 1/3 career big league innings, he underwent UCL surgery in June 2023, and some elbow discomfort kept him from making his return late in the 2024 season as a member of the Astros. The White Sox claimed Murfee off waivers from Houston last November, marking the fourth time in a 13-month period that the right-hander had changed teams on the waiver wire. Murfee made his return to the Show in the form of 12 2/3 innings of 7.82 ball for the White Sox earlier this season. Chicago outrighted the hurler to Triple-A in early May, and while Murfee had a respectable 4.09 ERA over 22 innings for Charlotte, he has recorded more walks (18) than strikeouts (16).
Bills GM says James Cook decision was 'disappointing'
On Monday, Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane responded to James Cook's decision not to practice with the team on Sunday. Cook, who had been practicing with the Bills through training camp until that point amid contract negotiations, told ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg that he made a "business" decision not to practice with his teammates. During an appearance on WGR 550, Beane said the team did not know of Cook's plan until right before practice. He was disappointed that the situation deteriorated to a point where the star running back felt the need to miss a practice. "There's been constant communication between the two sides....at the end of the day I wish we weren't here," Beane said, via WGR's Sal Capaccio. "This is my ninth season and have never had a player miss practice due too a contract, so it's disappointing for me." Beane doesn't believe Cook's negotiations will cause a distraction in the locker room unless players "let it become" a distraction. The negotiations between the Bills and Cook could continue past training camp. "We'd love to keep him, but I have to make sure it all fits under an umbrella, not in a silo... If we don't get something done now it doesn't mean we can't before (Cook) becomes a free agent," Beane said. Cook is looking for a $15 million per year deal after earning his second consecutive Pro Bowl appearance and earning the NFL rushing touchdowns co-leader (tied with Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs with 16) in 2024. Beane said he isn't taking a hard line on not paying Cook because he's a running back, saying the Bills want to sign him at the "sweet spot." The Bills need the "sweet spot" to come sooner rather than later. It's common for teams to deal with sit-outs and holdouts during the preseason. What Buffalo doesn't want is a distraction during the regular season or postseason, and that could be where this is headed.
Sean Payton's take about Broncos' Super Bowl chances should raise eyebrows
The Denver Broncos haven't won a playoff game since Super Bowl 50. Head coach Sean Payton expects that to change in 2025. Payton won a Super Bowl as New Orleans Saints HC during the 2009 season. He says the 2025 Broncos could do the same. "The short-term goal is winning the division," Payton told Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson in a story published Sunday. "But this is a team capable of winning the Super Bowl. I've coached six teams that I thought could win the Super Bowl. Some went to championship games, some went to the playoffs. This is my seventh team that I think has that." After losing to the Buffalo Bills 31-7 in the AFC wild-card round last season, the Broncos splurged in free agency. They signed tight end Evan Engram, safety Talanoa Hufanga, linebacker Dre Greenlaw and running back J.K. Dobbins. Greenlaw and Hufanga helped the San Francisco 49ers reach Super Bowl LVIII during the 2023 season. Many of Denver's stars are also returning, including cornerback Patrick Surtain II and quarterback Bo Nix. The second-year passer tossed the league's sixth-most touchdown passes (29 in 17 starts) during his rookie season. Payton thinks that's just a taste of what's to come. "[Nix is] going to be one of the top four or five quarterbacks in the league in the next two years," the coach said. "That's what we're seeing right now. He doesn't take sacks. He's got exceptional arm strength. ... He threw the longest ball — [67] air yards against [the Cincinnati Bengals]. He can run. He can throw in funny body angles." Before placing your bets on Denver, remember it's in the AFC West, which features the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have made three straight Super Bowl appearances, winning two. Denver's talent could help it compete with Kansas City. In a story published July 21, ESPN's Mike Clay, Aaron Schatz and Seth Walder listed the Broncos' projected starting lineup as the NFL's sixth best. The Chiefs, meanwhile, ranked No. 5. It seems Payton isn't overhyping his team, which could be a Super Bowl sleeper.
Marlins troll Yankees with fitting song amid series sweep
The Miami Marlins turned to good ol’ Neil Diamond to clown on the New York Yankees during their impressive weekend triumph. Miami pulled off an improbable three-game series sweep of the Yankees on Sunday with a 7-3 win at LoanDepot Park in Miami. It marked the sixth consecutive series victory for the Marlins as well as their first-ever three-game sweep of the Yankees in franchise history. As Sunday’s game was nearing the end, the Marlins decided to have some fun. With the Yankees down to their last three outs entering the top of the ninth inning, “Sweet Caroline” began loudly playing inside the ballpark. Here is a video: Of course, “Sweet Caroline” is an anthem of the Boston Red Sox, the hated rivals of the Yankees. The song plays in the eighth inning of every game at Fenway Park. Fittingly enough, the 62-51 Red Sox are officially now ahead of the Yankees in the AL East standings (thanks to the Yankees’ brutal weekend against the Marlins putting them at 60-52). The Yankees only had themselves to blame for their poor weekend showing, piling on several more embarrassing mental mistakes during the series. As for the Marlins though, they are quickly looking like one of the best stories of the second half. After sitting at a dismal 25-41 in mid-June, Miami is suddenly a .500 team again at 55-55 and it has clawed to within 5.5 games back of a wild-card spot in the NL.
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