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Kurt Suzuki Won't Return as Angels' Manager in 2027
The Los Angeles Angels have announced that they have declined the option in Kurt Suzuki's contract and will search for a new manager and coaching staff for next season. "Kurt has earned tremendous respect in our clubhouse, and I've seen firsthand how much he cares about our players. I do not believe our record this year was a true reflection of his abilities as a manager," Angels baseball operations consultant John Mozeliak said. Mozeliak said Suzuki has been offered to stay on the Angels staff as a special assistant. The Angels finished this season 62-100 and in last place in the American League West division, 19 games back of the division winners, the Houston Astros.
Source: Los Angeles Angels
Source: Los Angeles Angels
Angels Being Sold to Rams Owner Stan Kroenke
The Los Angeles Angels are being sold to Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, pending MLB approval. Kroenke is collecting professional sports franchises at this point, as he also owns the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids, Colorado Mammoth, and Arsenal Football Club. It puts an end to a tumultuous ownership tenure for long-time Angels owner Arte Moreno, the first Latino majority owner in MLB, who purchased the Angels from the Walt Disney Company in 2003 on the heels of their first and only World Series championship. Moreno immediately brought in Vladimir Guerrero and Bartolo Colon. The franchise won the American League West five times in a six-year span from 2004 to 2009, but the Angels have made the playoffs once since 2010, spoiling the prime years of Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. Moreno was often criticized for being too heavy-handed in baseball operations. Things began to change when the Angels brought in long-time St. Louis Cardinals head of baseball operations John Mozeliak to trade controllable players and reshape the front office and coaching staff.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Angels Fire Pro Scout for Filming Rockies Coaches
The Los Angeles Angels fired a pro scout who calls himself "The Baseball Spy" after filming Colorado Rockies coaches on his cell phone while working in the stands, according to Brittany Ghiroli and Sam Blum of The Athletic. The Angels had just hired Justin "Boomer" Prinstein last December. Scouts filming is generally considered a legal practice, but using technology to steal or decode signs is not allowed. The Rockies reported the incident to MLB, which alerted the Angels front office. Then-Angels general manager Perry Minasian fired Prinstein right away, according to multiple sources. It's believed that Prinstein acted on his own initiative and that the Angels won't face any punishment from MLB. Before his time with the Angels, Prinstein last worked for an MLB club in 2023 as an international scout with the Cincinnati Reds. At the time of his filming of the Rockies, Colorado was calling pitches from the dugout. "They can try," Rockies pitching coach Alon Leichman told The Athletic when asked in spring about teams attempting to steal signs. "It'd be absolutely hilarious if they tried."
Source: The Athletic - Brittany Ghiroli and Sam Blum
Source: The Athletic - Brittany Ghiroli and Sam Blum
Nolan Schanuel Gaining Waiver Traction as he Heats Up
Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel has limited power at the first base position, but he has become attractive off the waiver wire in deeper fantasy leagues with improved production at the plate since he returned from the injured list in early June. In 20 games since rejoining the Halos on June 6, Schanuel has gone 17-for-65 (.262) with two home runs, two doubles, seven RBI, and 11 runs scored across 78 plate appearances. The 24-year-old left-handed slugger came into Thursday's game against the division-rival Seattle Mariners with 14 hits in his last 47 at-bats (.298) with two homers in his last 12 games since June 16. Overall, the former 11th overall pick in 2023 out of Florida Atlantic University has a pretty uninspiring .262/.332/.387 slash line, .719 OPS, six home runs, 31 RBI, and 29 runs scored across his 256 at-bats. Schanuel makes decent contact at the plate, but a .373 xSLG just doesn't really move the needle in terms of power. Fantasy managers can ride his recent hot streak, but if you're looking for game-changing power off the waiver wire, you've come to the wrong place.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Trey Mancini Racks Up Three Hits in Season Debut, Is He Back on the Fantasy Radar?
Los Angeles Angels first baseman Trey Mancini returned to the majors for the first time since July 31, 2023, and he looked impressive in his first game back. The 34-year-old righty went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in his team's 5-4, extra-inning loss to the Astros. He put up solid numbers in Triple-A last year for the Diamondbacks, hitting .308 with 16 homers and a .389 wOBA before opting out on July 1st. He slashed .273/.377/.464 in 52 games in Triple-A this season with six homers, 40 runs scored, and 29 RBI before returning to the majors on Monday. Mancini could get some playing time with Nolan Schanuel (ankle) battling tendinitis and Vaughn Grissom (oblique) on the injured list. Mancini has hit well enough at Triple-A to be an interesting deep-league pickup and streaming option if he continues to get playing time for the Halos. He doesn't have elite power or an extremely high ceiling, but he has proven that he can make consistent contact and accumulate counting stats.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Nolan Schanuel Activated and Starting on Saturday Night
Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel (ankle) was activated from the 10-day injured list and is in the starting lineup for Saturday night's game against the hosting Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, starting at first base and batting fifth for the Halos, according to MLB.com. Schanuel is back after spending the minimal amount of time on the IL with left-ankle tendinitis. The 24-year-old former 11th overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft out of Florida Atlantic University provides well below-average production as a first baseman in fantasy, which is why he's rostered in only 11% of Yahoo leagues. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues should continue to leave him to the waiver wire, and we'd suggest avoiding him as a DFS option in his return against Yamamoto. Schanuel is returning to a .262/.313/.387 slash line with a .700 OPS, only four home runs, 24 RBI, and 18 runs scored in 49 games across 208 plate appearances. In his two full seasons in the big leagues with the Angels, Schanuel hasn't topped 13 home runs.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Nolan Schanuel is Beginning Rehab Assignment on Friday
Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel (ankle) is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Friday. Schanuel is currently working his way back from a left ankle injury that he suffered in late May. If everything goes well, Schanuel should be able to return to the Angels lineup by the weekend. This season, Schanuel is slashing .262/.313/.387 with four home runs, 24 RBI, and 13 walks across 208 plate appearances. He's someone worth considering stashing in deep leagues with his return on the horizon.
Source: Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Source: Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Nolan Schanuel Dealing With Ankle Tendinitis, Length of Absence Unknown
Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel (ankle) said his MRI exam showed that he has left-ankle tendinitis, and he's not sure how long he'll be on the 10-day injured list, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. It's an injury that Schanuel has been dealing with since April, but it flared up recently. The Angels initially classified his injury as left-calf inflammation. At least for the foreseeable future, infielder Vaughn Grissom figures to take most of the available playing time at first base in Anaheim with Schanuel sidelined. Even in AL-only leagues, Schanuel isn't a must-hold while he's out, as the former 11th overall pick in 2023 out of Florida Atlantic is hitting .262 (50-for-191) with only four home runs, 24 RBI, and 18 stolen bases over his 49 games and 208 plate appearances in 2026. He also has a weak .313 on-base percentage and a career-low .700 OPS. Schanuel is currently rostered in just 12% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Rhett Bollinger
Source: MLB.com - Rhett Bollinger
Nolan Schanuel Placed on Injured List With Ankle Inflammation
The Los Angeles Angels announced on Wednesday that they placed infielder Nolan Schanuel (ankle) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to May 24) with left-ankle inflammation and selected the contract of infielder Nick Madrigal from the minors in a corresponding move. Schanuel initially suffered what was being called a calf injury on Saturday against the Texas Rangers, and now he'll be forced to miss at least the next 10 days. Vaughn Grissom, who slugged a grand slam in Tuesday's win over the Detroit Tigers, is the most likely candidate to see most of the starts at first base for the Halos with Schanuel sidelined. Because he's a below-average power guy at the first base position, the left-handed-hitting Schanuel isn't much of a fantasy option in mixed leagues. The former 11th overall pick in 2023 out of Florida Atlantic has hit .262 (50-for-191) on the season with only four home runs, 24 RBI, and 18 runs scored, along with a weak .313 on-base percentage for the last-place Angels. Schanuel is only rostered in 12% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Angels PR
Source: Angels PR
Nolan Schanuel Not Ready to Return From Calf Injury
Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel (calf) remains absent from the team's starting lineup for Tuesday's tilt in Detroit against the Tigers, according to MLB.com. Schanuel is currently dealing with a tight left calf muscle and will miss a second straight game. It's something that he has dealt with before this season, so he should be considered day-to-day, and he could return for Wednesday's contest at Comerica Park. For the second straight game, infielder Vaughn Grissom will handle first-base duties and will back third for the Halos against Tigers right-hander Keider Montero. With a below-average power profile and on-base skills at first base, Schanuel isn't much to look at as a corner-infield option in mixed leagues, and he's currently slashing just .262/.313/.387 with a .700 OPS, only four long balls, 24 RBI, and 18 runs scored across his 191 at-bats. The former 11th overall pick in 2023 out of Florida Atlantic is rostered in only 13% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Nolan Schanuel Removed with Calf Tightness
Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel (calf) was forced to make an early exit from Saturday's game against the Texas Rangers. Schanuel appears to have suffered a calf injury while running the bases during the fifth inning. He was replaced by Vaughn Grissom at first base, who could see an extended look over there if Schanuel misses time. Before leaving Saturday's game, Schanuel was 1-for-3 at the plate with a double and an RBI. Fantasy managers should check back ahead of Sunday's game for another update on Schanuel. The Angels could potentially promote Christian Moore if Schanuel does have an extended absence.
Source: Jeff Fletcher
Source: Jeff Fletcher
