Canning injury has Angels looking for more pitching
On the day that one of the Angels' candidates for the starting rotation revealed that he's been hurt for about a month, the general manager reiterated that his lack of action in acquiring more pitching is not for lack of effort.
Griffin Canning, who was in the mix for the sixth spot in the Angels' rotation, said he suffered a setback in his recovery from a back injury and will not be ready for opening day.
Canning missed most of last season with the injury, but said he was back to 100% in February before the setback.
“I just want to be out there playing baseball again,” said Canning, who added that he pitched with some discomfort in his back even before the injury was diagnosed in the summer. “But I understand it's not always perfect trajectory coming back from an injury. I just have to handle it and be good to go.”
Canning said he's hoping to resume throwing later in the week, but he won't be on a mound for four weeks, Angels general manager Perry Minasian said.
Canning's absence leaves Jaime Barria and Reid Detmers as the top two candidates for the sixth spot in the rotation.
The top five pitchers, at the moment, are Shohei Ohtani, Noah Syndergaard, Patrick Sandoval, José Suarez and Michael Lorenzen.
It's a group Minasian is still trying to upgrade. He said, as he often does, that he will always be on the look out for more pitching.
Since the lockout ended, free-agent starters Carlos Rodon, Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw and Yusei Kikuchi have come off the board. The A's traded Chris Bassitt and the Reds traded Sonny Gray.
Minasian said he's been busy working the phones in the six days since the lockout ended, even though he hasn't come up with anyone for the pitching staff.
Asked if he still thinks a move is possible, Minasian
said: “We'll find out. You don't know. It's hard, right? It's hard to predict. That's a lot of conversations, a lot of dialogue. Sometimes you feel like it's going the right way, and sometimes you feel like we're gonna make a make a U-turn.”
Minasian said he appreciated the fans' frustration.
“I'm a big sports fan, so I totally understand,” he said. “I love basketball. I love football. I have my teams. I understand when you're watching and you're hoping and expecting things to happen quick. All I can say is I feel like we've improved from where we were last year.”
Minasian refused to give any details on the Angels' spending parameters, or whether they had changed in light of the new collective bargaining agreement. The competitive balance tax threshold rose from $210 million to $230 million.
“This is an ownership group that is committed to winning,” Minasian said. “I have not been told no on anything.”
Makeup games
Major League Baseball announced the new schedule, including the rescheduled games postponed by the lockout.
The Angels will finish the season Oct. 3-5 with three games at Oakland. The fourth game from the postponed season-opening series will be played as part of a doubleheader on May 14.
The Angels will make up their two missed games in
Seattle with one doubleheader during each of their other two trips, on June 18 and Aug. 6.
Duffy signs deal
The Angels signed veteran infielder Matt Duffy to a one-year, $1.5 million deal on Wednesday.
Duffy provides another versatile infielder. He played 56 games at third base, 21 at second and five at shortstop with the Chicago Cubs last season.
Duffy, 31, hit .287 with a .738 OPS last season. He is a career .283 hitter with a .721 OPS.
The Angels cleared a spot on the 40-man roster for Duffy by placing starting pitcher Griffin Canning on the 60-day injured list.
Notes
The Angels have decided to make Benji Gil their first-base coach, switching him from quality assurance coach.
Minasian did not address the previous reports that they were close to hiring former outfielder Adam Eaton for the job. Minasian said they are still trying to figure out who will coach the outfielders. …
Kurt Suzuki passed his physical and participated in workouts Wednesday. “I'm extremely excited to have him back,” Minasian said. “He's one of those guys that that changes teams. I know it's tough to see that from the outside. But I think if you asked every single guy in that locker room there, they're beyond excited to have him back.”