The Angels have reinstated the right-hander Jose Cisnero from the 60-day injured list, the team announced. He will join his right-handed teammates Jose Sorianoplace on the active roster while Soriano goes on the 15-day IL due to right arm fatigue. To make room for Cisnero on the 40-man roster, the Angels traded Luis Rengifo on the 60-day IL. Rengifo underwent season-ending wrist surgery earlier this month.
Cisnero, 35, signed a one-year, $1.75 million deal with Los Angeles in the offseason. Unfortunately, his time with the Angels got off to a rocky start, as he allowed three earned runs in 2/3 of an inning on Opening Day. He posted a 7.07 ERA in 14 appearances in the first month of the season. He then landed on the IL in late April with inflammation in his throwing shoulder and has been out of action since. Despite his poor start, however, the veteran has a track record as a reliable middle reliever. From 2019-2023, he made 222 appearances for the Tigers, posting a 3.84 ERA and a 4.16 SIERA, so the Angels hope he can provide some stability in the bullpen upon his return. While LA ranks fifth in MLB with a 2.69 bullpen ERA since the trade deadline, the underlying metrics (4.40 SIERA, 4.57 xFIP) suggest that most likely won’t stay that way. The Angels’ relievers have a 4.13 ERA and a 4.25 SIERA this season, and that includes innings pitched. Carlos Estevez And Luis Garcia opened before they were dealt.
Unfortunately for the Angels, Cisneros’ return comes just as another pitcher is heading to the injured list. Soriano, 25, has been a standout for LA this year. In 20 starts since being inserted into the rotation on April 10, he has a 3.36 ERA, a 3.98 SIERA and a 2.1 FanGraphs WAR. During that time, he leads the Angels’ starters in all three metrics. However, in his last outing on Friday, he lasted just 3 1/3 innings. Manager Ron Washington told reporters (including Dan Arritt of the Orange County Register) after the game that he noticed Soriano was tired and picked him up so “he wouldn’t get hurt.”
Fortunately for the Angels, “arm fatigue” doesn’t sound like a particularly serious issue. In fact, Soriano stated that he’s “not afraid that it’s a serious injury” and said he’ll “work to get back as soon as possible” (per Arritt). That being said, Soriano has already thrown 113 innings this season, far more than he’s ever thrown in any other year of his professional career. Since the Angels have no illusions about competing for a postseason spot this year, they would be wise to exercise extreme caution with Soriano. Still, Washington made it clear that he expects to have the promising young pitcher back in his rotation before the end of the year (per Arritt).
Since Soriano was in the starting lineup for the last time yesterday, the Angels must find a replacement player in time for the series finale on Wednesday against the Royals. The most logical choice would probably be Reid Detmerswho had a brilliant performance in Triple-A on Friday, allowing one run in eight innings and recording eleven strikeouts. The 25-year-old Detmers has been pitching in Triple-A since his options were exercised in June. His overall results in Salt Lake were disappointing (6.37 ERA in 12 GS), but he is already on the 40-man roster and has several years of MLB experience under his belt. Other options on the 40-man roster are Sam Bachman, Davis DanielAnd Kenny RosenbergDaniel and Rosenberg were optioned earlier this week but could be recalled early if they replace the injured Greene.
In addition to the 40-strong squad, there are also experienced Johnny Cueto is the most interesting option. The 38-year-old signed a minor league deal with the Angels in July and has a 3.09 ERA in four starts with the Salt Lake Bees. However, he had a 5.71 ERA and a 4.91 FIP in nine starts in Triple-A in the Rangers organization earlier this year. He had a 6.02 ERA and a 4.93 SIERA in the major leagues for the Marlins last season. In other words, there’s a reason the two-time All-Star and 2014 Cy Young runner-up couldn’t return to the major leagues in 2024.
