Veteran reliever Moore likes Angels' outlook

Matt Moore is buying what the Angels are selling.

After Moore’s one-year, $7.55 million deal with the Angels became official Thursday, the veteran left-hander said one of the main reasons he opted to sign with the Angels was that he believes the team can win.

Moore pitched last season with the Texas Rangers, so he saw plenty of the Angels, from their 2717 start to the disappointing four months that followed.

“I feel like this group’s not out of position to make big moves in the division,” Moore said, standing outside the Angels’ clubhouse after passing his physical. “Having played against them last year. I know the first couple months was probably more like the character of this team, or more what they’re capable of, more than the last three months.”

Moore, 33, posted a 1.95 ERA in 74 innings with the Rangers last season. He allowed 49 hits and 38 walks for a WHIP of 1.18. He struck out 74.

Moore held lefties to a .634 OPS and righties to .537 mark, and he averaged more than one inning per appearance, both indications that he was more than a lefty specialist.

Moore has pitched parts of 11 years in the big leagues, including beginning his career as a successful starter with the Tampa Bay Rays. He struggled as a reliever in 2019, and then went to pitch in Japan. He returned the United States and again failed to produce in 2021, before enjoying a career renaissance in 2022.

Moore said one of the keys was an improved curveball, which he discovered when Rangers coaches tweaked his hand position last spring.

Moore threw his curve a career high 38.2% of the time last season, holding opponents to a .217 average on the pitch. Hitters whiffed at 29.5% of their swings at his curve last year, up from 15.7% in 2021.

Moore was also able to increase the velocity on his fastball from 92.4 mph in 2021 to 93.9 mph in 2022, which he said was because he was able to pitch closer to his peak intensity as a reliever, rather than preserving his energy as a starter.

Moore joins a bullpen mix including righthander Carlos Estevez as the likely closer, with right-handers Jimmy Herget, Ryan Tepera and Andrew Wantz, and lefties Aaron Loup and José Quijada. Right-hander Jaime Barria is also likely to be in the Angels’ bullpen if he doesn’t win a job in the rotation, and it’s also possible he could pitch in both roles.

The Angels could use Moore as a multi-inning reliever or a one-inning, high-leverage reliever.

“Part of having a really good bullpen is having guys that can do different things at different times when things are needed,” general manager Perry Minasian said. “We feel like we have a really deep pen with a lot of different options. Our job as a front office, from a baseball operations standpoint, is to give our manager and coaching staff as many quality options as we can. When you have a lot of options, you don’t have to necessarily put the ball in the same hand every night. That keeps guys fresh and strong to play for a six-month season.”

Minasian said the deal was also an indication of owner Arte Moreno’s commitment to giving the Angels a shot at a winning season. The payroll is now up to about $213 million, which is nearly $40 million more than it was in 2022. For purposes of the luxury tax, they are now at about $227 million, nearing the $233 million threshold.

“There’s a respect level (with Moreno) where if we do have a deficiency and we feel like there’s a possible answer to that deficiency, and it makes sense, contractually, it’s something I bring to him and say, ‘I think this helps. I think this moves the needle for our club,’” Minasian said. “Matt Moore was one of those instances. I can’t stress enough how delighted I am with what I’ve been able to accomplish. Payroll wise, we are as high as it’s ever been. The commitment made by ownership, I do not take that lightly.”

The Angels opened a spot on the 40-man roster for Moore by placing right-hander Davis Daniel on the 60-day injured list with a strained shoulder. Minasian said Daniel felt some discomfort a couple weeks ago and for now they want to take it slowly with the 25-yearold.

Minasian said he does not believe Daniel’s injury threatens his season.

Rodriguez update

Right-hander Chris Rodriguez, who has been out since 2021 because of shoulder surgery, conceded Thursday that he’s still not back to 100%, even though he’s been throwing bullpen sessions and feels good about his progress.

“We’re getting there,” Rodriguez said when asked if he’s 100%. “We’re getting there. Part of me wants to say yes. But you know, there’s still a process to this. I’ll leave that to the higher-ups, but right now we’re feeling really good and everybody’s really happy with where we’re at with this, so I’m excited.”

Rodriguez, 24, was a revelation as a reliever for the Angels early in 2021. Later in the season, he showed encouraging signs as a starter.

Rengifo wins

Infielder Luis Rengifo won his arbitration hearing, so he will earn $2.3 million instead of the $2 million the Angels were offering. Before news of the decision, Rengifo chose not to comment on his feelings about the hearing.

The Angels still have not gotten the results of their other two hearings, with outfielder Hunter Renfroe and infielder Gio Urshela.