Jared Walsh, Angels Avoid Arbitration
Jared Walsh (shoulder) avoided salary arbitration after inking a one-year, $2.65 million deal. Walsh was sidelined for the last month of the season after undergoing a thoracic outlet surgery. He is expected to be ready for the 2023 season and shouldn't miss any time. Across 454 plate appearances, the 29-year-old posted a .215/.269/.374 slash line with 44 RBI and 15 HRs. His .642 OPS was nothing close to what he displayed in the two previous years, but his health certainly impeded his success. If the first baseman can stay healthy in 2023, the Angels are hoping that Walsh can tap into his raw power that was on display in 2021 when he hit 29 homers.
Source: Jon Heyman
The Los Angeles Angels and first baseman Source: Jon Heyman
Jared Walsh Designated for Assignment
Jared Walsh was designated for assignment on Saturday. The move was correlated with activating Nathaniel Lowe off of the injured list. Walsh hit below league average in his early season stint, slashing .226/.317/.321 in 60 PA and has been a subpar hitter since his breakout years in 2020 and 2021. With the lefty off of the Rangers active roster, Lowe will take on the starting role at first base. Utility player Ezequiel Duran will see decreased playing time as well. Fantasy managers should only have interest in Lowe at this time.
Source: Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers first baseman Source: Texas Rangers
Jared Walsh Riding Pine On Sunday
Ezequiel Duran. Duran comes into Sunday's game with a .188 AVG and will bat eighth. Duran will not be a popular play in DFS as he will face Christian Javier who has a 1.10 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over his first three starts.
Source: MLB.com
Texas Rangers first baseman is not in Sunday's lineup as the Rangers will play the rubber match of a three-game set against their division rival Houston Astros. Walsh has done well with his new team, as he is riding a solid .250/.333/.354 line with one round-tripper and seven RBI. Walsh will cede first base duties to utility man Source: MLB.com
Jared Walsh Enjoying Most Of Opportunity
Jared Walsh went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run versus the Chicago Cubs in the Cactus League on Sunday. Walsh is coming off of some injury plagued and underperforming seasons for the Los Angeles Angels, but has been on fire for his new club this spring with a .303 batting average to go along with three homers and six RBI in 33 at-bats. With first baseman Nathaniel Lowe (oblique) potentially missing Opening Day, Walsh would remain a strong replacement. Walsh doesn't have an everyday role without an injury, but his strong spring should allow him to break camp with the big-league roster. For now, he can safely be left on the waiver wire.
Source: MLB.com
Texas Rangers first baseman Source: MLB.com
Rangers Sign Jared Walsh, Matt Duffy To Minor-League Deals
Jared Walsh, infielder Matt Duffy and left-hander Blake Taylor to minor-league deals with invitations to major-league spring training on Thursday. Walsh was a first-time All-Star with the Los Angeles Angels in 2021, when he hit .277 (147-for-530) with a career-high 29 home runs in 144 games. However, he fell on hard times the last two seasons, hitting a combined 19 home runs, and injuries limited him to 39 games in 2023 before he was cut. If Walsh can get healthy, he could find his way back to the big leagues as a bench bat for the World Series champions. Duffy, 33, hit .251/.306/.325 with two home runs and 16 RBI in 78 games for the Kansas City Royals in 2023. He'll give the Rangers defensive versatility as not much more than infield depth in 2024.
Source: Texas Rangers PR
The Texas Rangers signed free-agent first baseman Source: Texas Rangers PR
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