Los Angeles Angels make multiple moves, more could be coming

The Los Angeles Angels made a few roster moves Monday and one can only think more could be on the horizon as July starts the wheeling and dealing many teams do in hopes of improving their team either now or in the future.

The Los Angeles Angels optioned lefty reliever Jose Alvarez to Triple-A Salt Lake Monday to make room for starter Nick Tropeano to be promoted back to the majors and join the rotation in time to start the first game of the Angels series against Tampa Bay.

In addition the Angels demoted right-hander Jhoulys Chacin to the bullpen after a disastrous month of June that saw Chacin go 1-3 with an 8.59 ERA. Chacin’s season ERA rose from 4.42 to 5.87 during that time period.

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Chacin was acquired in a trade in early May when the Angels lost Garrett Richards due to an elbow injury. At first the 28-year old right-hander started strong for the Angels pitching three quality starts in his first four outings for the club including a complete game four-hitter against Detroit on May 30th.

However since then Chacin has not pitched 6 innings in any start. Alvarez has seen similar results over that same time period seeing his ERA rise from 3.80 on May 24th to 5.14 on June 8th. Alvarez though had seem to right his ship as he had not allowed a run in his last eight appearances, until giving up two runs without retiring a batter in Sunday’s 10-5 loss to Boston. Which may have been the straw that broke the camels back in Mike Scioscia‘s eyes.

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The Angels will not have a lefty in the bullpen for the time being with Alvarez demoted to Triple-A, but manager Mike Scioscia hopes to use a few of his right-handed relievers who are effective against lefties.

Scioscia said in an interview with Sam Blum of MLB.Com “The lefties we have had up this season haven’t been very effective,” Scioscia said. “Hopefully the depth of the right-handed bullpen pitchers will carry us. With Jose it’s the number of pitches he has thrown behind in the count, because he hasn’t been able to command the ball.”

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In other news, catcher Geovany Soto hopes to be back with the team in the next couple of days as he has completed a rehab assignment in Salt Lake City for the Triple-A Bees. The Angels will most likely send down either Carlos Perez or Jett Bandy when Soto is activated. Perez is coming off a career performance on Saturday where he went 5 for 6 scoring two runs and driving in six runs raising his average 22 points from .186 to .208. Bandy has been slumping in the last week hitting only .158 with one homer and one RBI.

The only thing going in Bandy’s favor is that he can hit left-handed which neither Perez or Soto can do which may keep him up in the big leagues at least a little while longer.

Next: Trout vs. Durant?

Stay tuned to Halo Hangout for more roster updates as well as the latest trade rumors.

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