Angels sign Brett Phillips (1 year, $1.2 million), DFA Austin Warren

[TempeAngel]

.188/.273/.348/.620

[BTH]

1 hour ago, Angelsfan1984 said:

He posts his swing a lot. Seems to have made a ton of improvement in shortening it up. Looks alot quieter of a pre swing approach and the shift change could really help him offensively.

He’s also working with Trent Woodward, who is the guy who helped Taylor Ward:

 

[Rico]

2 hours ago, Blarg said:

He's crap you can pick up off of a DFA when Spring Training breaks. I think it's a waste of money. 

Then why couldn't we get a guy like that last season?

[AngelsLakersFan]

2 hours ago, Docwaukee said:

And perhaps Moniak as well.  Both he and Adell need everyday at bats if they have any chance at at a future.  

Another tidbit on phillips - He was shifted on 106 of the 107 PA he put the ball in play.  And he was 0 fer last year in his 34 abs vs. lefties.  He's 8 for 110 his last two years vs. LHers.  

He's not gonna turn into a .280 hitter or anything, but there's some opportunity to improve him a bit.  

The year before vs. RHers, his slash was .244/.337/.533 with a wRC+ of 138.   I'll take that all day.  

Again, I'm ok with it as long as it allows for another move.  

Well you sold me on it.

[Warfarin]

This is per his Fangraphs prospect report a few years back:

Quote

But he does lots of other things. Phillips is an above-average runner and high-effort player who makes it work in center field despite lacking great instincts. He has strong hands and is able to poke balls out the other way on occasion. Most notably, Phillips has elite, game-changing arm strength and uncorked a throw in excess of 104 mph, according to Statcast, this year. Some scouts think Phillips’ patience, raw power, and ability to play center field will make him an average everyday player, but most think his inability to hit will limit him to a lesser role.

They basically seem to have been rather spot on.  He is what we basically asked for - someone who can be a 4th OF and not cost much.  

His presence basically pushes Adell into being the 6th or 7th OF on the team.  That should ensure that he is not on the MLB roster at all UNLESS he progresses significantly in AAA and earns it, as opposed to being called up due to necessity (i.e. we don't have anyone better).  

After our starting 3 OF, we now have Phillips as the 4th OF, then either Barrera and Moniak as 5/6 depending on performance. 

[Inside Pitch]

4 minutes ago, AngelsLakersFan said:

Well you sold me on it.

791 career at bats -- almost a season and a half worth of at bats, enough that nobody should really be expecting him to improve on his career numbers.  And yet... in under 2 seasons worth of at bats he's managed to accumulate 4.3 fWAR, 4.8 bWAR.

Throw out his "good" 2021 and he's still managed to put up just under 2 WAR in one season's worth of at bats.  Basically he's been a role player/defensive specialist that's been used correctly.

Hopefully that's how he will be used because if he ends up playing everyday, shit's gone wrong and Ohtani is trade bait.

[Inside Pitch]

40 minutes ago, Trendon said:

He’s also working with Trent Woodward, who is the guy who helped Taylor Ward:

 

Angels should hire that guy too.

[Blarg]

12 minutes ago, Rico said:

Then why couldn't we get a guy like that last season?

Who is this "we" you are talking about because I know I wasn't part of the selection process.

[Warfarin]

11 minutes ago, Inside Pitch said:

791 career at bats -- almost a season and a half worth of at bats, enough that nobody should really be expecting him to improve on his career numbers.  And yet... in under 2 seasons worth of at bats he's managed to accumulate 4.3 fWAR, 4.8 bWAR.

Throw out his "good" 2021 and he's still managed to put up just under 2 WAR in one season's worth of at bats.  Basically he's been a role player/defensive specialist that's been used correctly.

Hopefully that's how he will be used because if he ends up playing everyday, shit's gone wrong and Ohtani is trade bait.

And that is how I hope we use him.  His greatest assets are his defense and speed.  Plug him into games in the mid/late innings, have him pinch-run, etc.  He can start in CF for Trout's scheduled days off, and perhaps occasionally in the corners when there's a good matchup for him on the mound.

If they're crafty, they can use him well and have him positively contribute to the team.  

[BTH]

It'll be interesting to see how and if they utilize him as a defensive replacement when the Ward/Trout/Renfroe outfield is heathy.

Would they take one of Ward or Renfroe out for Phillips? Would they just put him in a corner? Or would they put Phillips in CF and put Trout in a corner?

[Warfarin]

20 minutes ago, Trendon said:

It'll be interesting to see how and if they utilize him as a defensive replacement when the Ward/Trout/Renfroe outfield is heathy.

Would they take one of Ward or Renfroe out for Phillips? Would they just put him in a corner? Or would they put Phillips in CF and put Trout in a corner?

While that may be ideal from a defensive perspective, I'm not sure we'll see that at this point.  I think Trout is pretty adamant about wanting to continue to play CF until he isn't able.

I think we could see Phillips play in RF and Renfroe shift to LF, in terms of late inning defensive configurations.  Phillips has an even stronger arm than Renfroe.

[Docwaukee]

3 minutes ago, Warfarin said:

While that may be ideal from a defensive perspective, I'm not sure we'll see that at this point.  I think Trout is pretty adamant about wanting to continue to play CF until he isn't able.

I think we could see Phillips play in RF and Renfroe shift to LF, in terms of late inning defensive configurations.  Phillips has an even stronger arm than Renfroe.

No way they switch Trout mid game. 

I feel like LF is actually tougher than RF from a range perspective so I think it'll be Phillips for Ward mostly.  Probably depends on where they are in the batting order though as Ward and Renfroe will likely be hitting 1 and 5.  

[ukyah]

these are the kinds of guys that get you sneaky wins, man. talented, hardworking guys that keep it going in the dugout and in the clubhouse. they put up decent numbers when used situationally, and when you look back on the season you can point to specific moments in games where they literally won you a few games either with an unexpected clutch hit or a defensive gem to preserve a win. he's still in his prime years, so the skillset shouldn't be wearing thin yet. this is a solid get for the team's need and to see him working with taylor's guy sprinkles some sugar on top, for me. great move, perry.

[Docwaukee]

4 hours ago, Blarg said:

He's crap you can pick up off of a DFA when Spring Training breaks. I think it's a waste of money. 

Getting exactly what they pay for here.  The guy that's better than the one you can pick up as a DFA at the end of spring.   When you don't have replacement level talent then you've got to buy it.   

[Slegnaac]

If he has any real speed, then the rules / equipment changes could play in his favor,  making him a prime PR candidate. 

[Revad]

3 hours ago, Docwaukee said:

Getting exactly what they pay for here.  The guy that's better than the one you can pick up as a DFA at the end of spring.   When you don't have replacement level talent then you've got to buy it.   

I would have spent money on a 4th outfielder, but then again I wanted pitching and a shortstop too.  

[T.G.]

10 hours ago, Blarg said:

Who is this "we" you are talking about because I know I wasn't part of the selection process.

[Rollinghard]

This is why he is a great addition to the Angels. Maybe some of this will rub off on Redon.

  

[Angel Oracle]

16 hours ago, Docwaukee said:

And perhaps Moniak as well.  Both he and Adell need everyday at bats if they have any chance at at a future.  

Another tidbit on phillips - He was shifted on 106 of the 107 PA he put the ball in play.  And he was 0 fer last year in his 34 abs vs. lefties.  He's 8 for 110 his last two years vs. LHers.  

He's not gonna turn into a .280 hitter or anything, but there's some opportunity to improve him a bit.  

The year before vs. RHers, his slash was .244/.337/.533 with a wRC+ of 138.   I'll take that all day.  

Again, I'm ok with it as long as it allows for another move.  

Especially with starting an all RHH OF, they need a LHH 4th OF.

Career .695 OPS vs RHP

Edited January 10, 2023 by Angel Oracle

[Angel Oracle]

9 hours ago, Slegnaac said:

If he has any real speed, then the rules / equipment changes could play in his favor,  making him a prime PR candidate. 

21 out of 24 SBs the past two seasons 

[Warfarin]

37 minutes ago, Angel Oracle said:

21 out of 24 SBs the past two seasons 

With speed becoming a more important asset given the rule changes, this would seem to be of value for us as well.

[Angelsfan1984]

14 hours ago, Inside Pitch said:

Angels should hire that guy too.

For sure...sounds like there was a connection already within the organization.

Brett Phillips father-in-law, Trey Hillman, is on Angels player development staff.

[totdprods]

Perfect guy for 4th OF. Someone with more upside woulda been cool, but no qualms here, and I still believe in Adell and Moniak. We have plenty of infielders who will pick up OF at-bats here and there too.

I’d love to see them add one or two of Michael Wacha, Michael Fulmer, Will Smith, Matt Wisler, Brad Hand, or Kevin Plawecki to shore up catcher and pitching staff. If they got one? Cool, two? Amazing. Round out the depth.

A trade for a mid-to-frontline arm would be fine too.

[Docwaukee]

And let me be clear.  I'm fine with this but it's not something to get excited about.  If they use him right then he'll negate a bunch of negative WAR players and keep the floor at the floor.  But a zero win player still isn't a very good player.  Just better than what we had last year to fill his role.  It's still likely going to be pretty ugly at the plate though.  

[Lazorko Saves]

12 hours ago, ukyah said:

taylor's guy sprinkles some sugar on top