ATLANTA — When Perry Minasian watched the Angels fight for a badly needed victory on Sunday afternoon, he felt an obligation to keep the momentum going.
“Everybody has a job to do,” the Angels general manager said on Monday. “Carlos Estévez did his job yesterday. Tyler Anderson did his job yesterday. And Hunter Renfroe did his job yesterday. And I felt like there was work for me to do too.”
A few hours later, Minasian pulled off a trade to provide some more firepower for a lineup that had just sustained another injury when Taylor Ward was hit in the face by a pitch, knocking him out for the rest of the regular season.
Minasian said Ward’s injury added the “urgency” to pick up outfielder Randal Grichuk from the Colorado Rockies. He also acknowledged that first base has been a problem area all season for the Angels, prompting the need for C.J. Cron.
“It just lengthens our lineup,” Minasian said. “They are two good players.”
Manager Phil Nevin said Cron would be the everyday first baseman, with Mike Moustakas sticking at third, and Grichuk would play left field, with Mickey Moniak and Hunter Renfroe staying in center and right. Cron was hitting third and Grichuk seventh on Monday night.
Nevin said the Angels got the same kind of jolt they received when the Angels made the deal last week for pitchers Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López.
“There’s a different buzz again when you’re adding things, and you have trust in your ownership and front office,” Nevin said. “That means a lot to the room, means a lot to the staff and myself.”
Minasian gave credit to owner Arte Moreno for approving the extra expense incurred by the two new players. They are owed about $6 million for the rest of the season. The Rockies are kicking in $2 million, leaving a $4 million bill for Moreno. The Angels have already exceeded the luxury tax threshold.
“It was one phone call (to Moreno),” Minasian said. “It was five minutes. And it was basically ‘Hey, we just had another injury. I believe in this team, I think this team can win. We have to keep adding to it. And that involves adding payroll.’ And there was no hesitation. Make the team as good as you can make it. So very thankful for that.”
Although the Angels have acquired four players in the last week, they still have until the deadline on Tuesday at 3 p.m. PT to make more deals.
“I’m not going to turn off my phone,” Minasian said. “Continue to be active over the next day and see if there’s anything else I can do to make this better.”
The deal also meant a homecoming of sorts for Grichuk and Cron. Both were drafted by the Angels. Cron spent four years in the majors with the Angels before he was traded in 2018. Grichuk was traded as a minor leaguer after the 2013 season. Each said he got texts on Sunday night from Mike Trout, who played with both of them.
“I never thought it would take 14 years to make my Angels debut, but here I am,” Grichuk said.
Since Cron left the Angels, he’s spent most of his career playing for non-contending teams, so he was eager to get back into the pennant race.
“They’re right in the division and right in the wild card, so win a few games and next thing you know you’re in first place,” Cron said. “That’s kind of the focus now, to win as many games as possible and I’m hoping I can contribute and help the team with as much as we can.”
CANNING SCRATCHED
Right-hander Griffin Canning was scheduled to start Monday night in Atlanta, but the Angels instead used Chase Silseth because Canning was feeling what he described as “general soreness.” He said he’s not concerned, and hopes to just “give it a couple days.”
Nevin was quick to say that Canning didn’t have an injury but was perhaps feeling the effects of his 120-pitch start earlier this month.
“Sometimes you need a little break after an extended start like that,” Nevin said.
Canning said this did not feel like anything related to the back injury that cost him a season and a half.
TROUT UPDATE
Trout, who is recovering from surgery to remove a fractured hamate bone, began taking dry swings on Monday.
“He’s excited to go in and do it,” Nevin said. “He knows he’s gonna feel great.”
Nevin said Trout was trying to get hitting coach Marcus Thames to let him hit some flips, but they had to hold him back.
“We won’t let him today,” Nevin said, “but he’s getting close.”
NOTES
Shohei Ohtani was named the American League Player of the Week. He pitched a one-hit shutout and hit three home runs last week, including two homers on the same day as the shutout. …
Shortstop Zach Neto was back in the lineup after missing the weekend in Toronto with a stiff back. Nevin said they almost had Neto play on Sunday, but they wanted to give him one more day. Neto went through a full workout on Monday before the game. …
Trey Cabbage was optioned to create a roster spot for Cron. The Angels opened the other roster spot on Sunday night, when they designated Kevin Padlo for assignment.
UP NEXT
Angels (LHP Patrick Sandoval, 6-7, 4.13 ERA) at Braves (RHP Spencer Strider, 11-3, 3.73 ERA), Tuesday, 4:20 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM
