Los Angeles Angels option C.J. Cron to Triple-A Salt Lake

The Los Angeles Angels made a surprise move Monday morning when they optioned first baseman C.J. Cron to the minors and called up infielder Nolan Fontana to replace Cron on the roster.

It seemed like a peculiar move to make for the Los Angeles Angels, sending C.J. Cron to the minors a day after he jump started the Angels offense in New York with a grand slam as part of a 12-run outburst.  However this move has been one that has been several months in the making.

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When the Angels acquired Luis Valbuena in late January it should have sent up warning flags to both C.J. Cron and Jefry Marte.  Valbuena like Marte can play multiple positions and he is also a left-handed power bat that the Angels have coveted.

In Spring Training both Cron and Marte played very well finishing with batting averages over .300, while Valbuena struggled with injuries that would end up sidelining him for the first month of the season. However Cron and Marte both struggled when the lights went on for real so it was only a matter of time that something would happen.

As fate would have it when Valbuena was ready to return, Cron went down with an injury so they just swapped places on the DL.  When Cron came back 10 days ago Yunel Escobar went down with an injury so again a move was put off.

However, with Cron’s lack of versatility (only playing first base) and production, .232 batting average with one homer and eight RBI’s he was deemed unneeded at this point in the season. Cron’s lone home run and half of his RBI’s came yesterday as a result of his first inning grand slam.

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So what does this mean for Cron’s future as an Angel is anyone’s guess, but for now he will have to try to regain his stroke in the minors.  This is the third straight season that Cron has been sent to the minors and in the previous two times he has come back stronger than ever, but this year may be different.

With the Angels now having Valbuena, Cron’s inconsistency may have cost him dearly.  Barring  an injury Cron’s trip to Salt Lake may be a lengthy one depending on the performances of Marte and Valbuena.  We will find out soon enough.

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As for Cron’s replacement on the roster is infielder Nolan Fontana.  Fontana has had a decent season thus far for Salt Lake hitting .265 with five homers and 25 RBI’s in 38 games. He can play multiple positions in the infield providing some depth for the Angels.  There is a good chance that he will see some time at third base with Escobar still on the mend. Fontana may also play some at second base since neither Cliff Pennington or Danny Espinosa are doing particularly well at the plate.

Fontana had a solid Spring for the Angels, but could not crack the roster.  This will be Fontana’s first ever major league action in his career. He was originally drafted in the second round by the Houston Astros in 2012 out of the University of Florida.

An interesting footnote on Fontana is that he is the grandson of former Milwaukee Braves lefty hurler Lew Burdette who had great success in the 50’s and 60’s for the Braves.

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Halo Hangout’s Taylor Barney who is based in Salt Lake will post a piece later tonight on Nolan Fontana who he has seen multiple times this season.

Welcome to the majors Nolan and good luck C.J. hope to see you again soon.