ANAHEIM -- The Angels decided to upgrade their outfield defense on Saturday, selecting the contract of Bryce Teodosio to take over as the club’s regular center fielder in the short-term.
It also allows the Angels to move Jo Adell from center field to right field, a position where he’s more comfortable and where he was a Gold Glove finalist a year ago. The Angels released first baseman/outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr. to make room for Teodosio, who started in center and went 0-for-2 before being pinch-hit for in the eighth inning of a 1-0 loss to the White Sox at Angel Stadium.
It was the second straight loss since the Trade Deadline for the Angels, who opted not to bolster their outfield via trade. They are 5 1/2 games out of the final AL Wild Card spot.
“I think it's a combination of everything,” interim manager Ray Montgomery said of adding Teodosio to the mix. “Teo is most comfortable in center. I think if you ask Jo, he would say he's most comfortable in right. And what he did last year out there sort of speaks to the work he's done there.
“We’re trying to get everybody in the best position we can and get the best triumvirate out there. So this is the way we're going to go.”
Teodosio, 26, gives the Angels a true defensive center fielder, which is something they have been missing this season. Superstar Mike Trout moved from center to right in an effort to stay healthy but suffered a bone bruise in his surgically repaired left knee on April 30 and has been relegated to designated hitter duty since returning on May 30.
Trout missed his second straight game due to illness on Saturday but could return as soon as Sunday as DH.
“He’s definitely progressing,” said Montgomery, who has recently been dealing with a similar illness. “Just not all the way there to be in the lineup, but noticeably different. He sounds bad, like I do, but he's feeling better.”
With Trout not playing the outfield, the Angels had been using Adell in center field with a mix of Gustavo Campero and Wade in right field. Veteran Jorge Soler had been seeing regular time in right before landing on the injured list with a lower back strain for the second time this season on July 26. Soler has yet to progress to baseball activities so his return isn’t considered imminent.
Teodosio missed time this year after undergoing hip-flexor surgery but had been faring well at Triple-A Salt Lake. He had a slash line of .321/.368/.491 in 16 games. He also got his first taste of the Majors last year, going 1-for-12 in five games but sustained a fractured middle finger on a bunt attempt on Sept. 10.
Teodosio has less experience than Wade, who slashed .169/.260/.215 with one home run and three RBIs in 30 games with the Angels. Teodosio fits the roster better because of his ability to play all three outfield spots.
The Angels also moved Nelson Rada from Double-A Rocket City to Salt Lake to replace Teodosio in center field. Rada, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the organization’s No. 6 prospect, could be an option for the Angels later in the year.
“I missed three months of the season, so that was tough,” Teodosio said. “But feeling really good and just ready to roll. Came back and have been feeling really good. Literally feel like nothing ever happened with my surgery and stuff. So can't complain whatsoever.”
The Angels are also hopeful it’ll make Adell feel more comfortable and will help get him going again at the plate. Adell has experienced a breakout year but has scuffled recently. He has slashed .157/.224/.292 with two homers and 11 RBIs over his last 24 games, including 0-for-3 with two strikeouts on Saturday.
“I think the idea is to keep Jo comfortable in right, where he obviously excelled last year,” Montgomery said. And even when he's been over there, in the short time this year, he's been fine. So, yeah, that would be the goal.
“And Bryce is going to get a chance to go out and do what he does. He's a well-above-average defensive center fielder. He runs really well. He tracks balls. He has huge instincts in center field. … I think it's a benefit for us across the board.”