How are former Angels players faring during the MLB playoffs?

From the outside looking in, the 2024 playoffs look incredibly fun. Really wish we could be a part of them someday.

The Angels might not have won a playoff game since 2009, but there are former Angels players who are doing their best to do just that with their new ballclubs. They all did not stay in Anaheim for long, and ended up playing relatively well elsewhere.

Some of the players were either mid-season or off-season acquisitions via trade who did not pan out well. Some were off-season acquisitions via free agency who did not pan out well. The Angels have a notoriously poor recent history with free agency. So much so that the Angels may well never spend in free agency again.

Anyway, let's deep dive into how these former players are doing in the playoffs!

Jesse Chavez, Gio Urshela

Gio Urshela barely factored into the Braves getting swept against the Padres, going 0/6 in the two games. Chavez pitched appeared in game one, faced the minimum over two innings pitched, striking out one, and allowed five flyouts (three of them quite hard).

Urshela was designated for assignment by the Tigers, cleared waivers, then signed with the Braves in time to qualify for the postseason roster. Urshela filled-in admirably for Austin Riley, posting the fourth highest bWAR of his career in only 36 games for Atlanta. His 0.9 bWAR surpassed the 0.8 bWAR he posted with the Angels in 62 games played in 2023. Minasian traded for Urshela in November, 2022 for Alejandro Hidalgo. Urshela spurned the Angels this off-season in favor of Detroit.

Chavez was traded to the Angels alongside Tucker Davidson from the Braves in exchange for Raisel Iglesias in 2022. Chavez picked back up with Atlanta later that season. The now 41-year-old has pitched remarkably well for the Braves the past three seasons.