3 players the Angels should've promoted instead of Livan Soto
The Los Angeles Angels have reportedly made the decision to promote Livan Soto from AA Rocket City. Adding an extra infielder likely means that Anthony Rendon is headed to the Injured List with his groin injury, unless there's something else we don't know about happening.
Losing Rendon is obviously a big deal, and nobody from the minors can replace his production. While that's certainly the case, I still believe the Angels had better options than calling up Livan Soto.
Soto impressed in his short time last season with the Angels, recording 22 hits in 55 at-bats in his 18 games played. While that's all great, Soto has never been a great hitter in the minors, hitting .247 with a .664 OPS across six seasons. To make matters worse, he's been dreadful this season, slashing .170/.343/.217 without a home run. He was so bad to the point where the Angels sent him to AA to figure things out (he hasn't).
There are three players in particular that I believe the Angels should've looked into promoting over Livan Soto.
1) The LA Angels should have promoted Jake Lamb over Livan Soto
Yes, I understand that the Angels just sent Lamb down. I understand the importance of leaving Lamb down to preserve depth as well, since the next time he's brought up he'll have the opportunity to opt-out if they decide to send him back down again. If you're trying to win right now, that shouldn't matter too much.
After a slow start, Lamb had been figuring things out offensively in a part-time role. He had hits in three of his last four appearances including a huge pinch-hit home run in the ninth inning to tie a game in St. Louis and a home run in Milwaukee just a couple of days before.
The Angels do not have a primary first baseman on the roster right now. Gio Urshela and Brandon Drury can play the position, but that's not where they excel. This is not me saying Lamb should be in there every day, but it'd be nice to have a primary first baseman on the roster. Lamb is also on the 40-man roster, so the move is easier to make.
2) The LA Angels should have promoted Trey Cabbage over Livan Soto
What more can Trey Cabbage prove offensively? The slugger is slashing .301/.367/.603 with 10 home runs and 24 RBI. Yes, he does strike out a lot, but if the Angels are losing their cleanup hitter, wouldn't it make sense to promote someone with a bit of offensive firepower?
Livan Soto is a fine contact hitter, but he doesn't provide much offensively. We have no idea what Cabbage can do at the MLB level, but his power alone makes him much more of a threat than Soto.
Again, we go back to the first base issue. The Angels can play Cabbage at first base against righties until Jared Walsh is ready to return from his rehab assignment.
The only hitter the Angels have in the minors who can rival what Cabbage can do offensively power-wise is Jo Adell. Adell, as we all know, is an outfielder, and the Angels do not need another one of those. Cabbage can play the outfield, but has been used primarily as a first baseman. The fit makes much more sense.
Where is Soto going to play? I assume the Angels will have Gio Urshela at third, Zach Neto at short, Luis Rengifo at second, and Brandon Drury at first most of the time. Soto can plug in at third, short, and second, but he'd never play regularly over those guys. Cabbage on the other hand would be a great option against righties at first base and that'd allow the Angels to bench one of Drury, Rengifo, and Urshela. All three of those guys are better options against lefties anyway.
Sooner or later it'll be time to see what Cabbage can do. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. I just have such low hopes for the role Soto will play on this team. While Cabbage is not on the 40-man roster, the Angels can simply move one of their injured relievers to the 60-day IL to open a spot.
3) The LA Angels should have promoted Michael Stefanic over Livan Soto
Maybe for some reason, the Angels felt that they needed a middle infielder with Rendon going to the IL. They don't, but maybe that was their thought process. If that was their thinking, why not just promote Michael Stefanic?
I know he didn't do much with his opportunities last season as he slashed .197/.279/.230 without a home run in his 61 at-bats, but I still believe in his bat much more than Soto. And if the 40-man roster is an issue for Cabbage, it shouldn't be for Stefanic as he's also on the 40-man.
In AAA this season he's slashing .352/.459/.451 with one home run and 16 RBI. I know that it's the PCL and the numbers won't come close to translating at the big league level, but Livan Soto played in the same conditions. The only difference is Soto was so bad to the point where he was demoted to AA while Stefanic is among the league leaders in batting.
Stefanic isn't as good of a defender as Soto, but Soto is a primary shortstop. Are we saying Soto is going to play short over Zach Neto? Of course not. I just don't see what role Soto will play or what he does other than defend better than Stefanic.
This move to promote Soto likely won't mean too much as he likely won't play often and will be sent down once Jared Walsh is ready to return, but that doesn't mean it makes sense. The Angels had better options that fit the team better than Livan Soto and they chose to ignore them for whatever reason.