Los Angeles Angels Restructure Roster, Designate Two Players for Assignment

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Angels announced adjustments to their 40-man roster, designating outfielder Jordyn Adams and infielder Eric Wagaman for assignment. This strategic move is intended to open roster spots for outfielder Matthew Lugo and left-handed pitcher Jack Dashwood, making them ineligible for the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.

Jordyn Adams, 25, notably drafted as the 17th overall pick in 2018, has garnered attention for his potential speed and power. Despite these prospects, Adams has struggled to progress as anticipated, maintaining a .252/.333/.377 batting line throughout six minor league seasons, including a .261/.333/.386 record in 549 Triple-A plate appearances this year, a performance considered subpar for the Pacific Coast League. His appearances in 28 major league games over the past two seasons resulted in a .176 batting average, with a strikeout rate near 36% due to limited playing opportunities.

Eric Wagaman, acquired from the Yankees organization in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 Draft, displayed strong performance in the upper minors. The Orange County native achieved a .274/.339/.469 slash line between Double-A and Triple-A, earning a brief stint with the Angels where he hit .250/.270/.403 with two home runs over 18 games. Despite these achievements, the 27-year-old faced challenges in securing a long-term position on the 40-man roster.

Matthew Lugo, 23 years old, was formerly a second-round pick by the Boston Red Sox. After remaining unselected in the previous Rule 5 Draft, Lugo delivered an impressive minor league performance, recording a .287/.376/.578 batting line with 17 home runs across 79 games. This breakthrough led to his acquisition by the Angels in a trade involving a veteran reliever. Lugo, one of four players included in the deal, is anticipated to potentially join the major league roster next season.

Jack Dashwood, aged 27, was selected in the 12th round of the 2019 draft from UC Santa Barbara. Despite spending much of the season on the minor league injured list, Dashwood showcased a striking 15:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 10 innings at the Double-A level and excelled in the Arizona Fall League with 17 strikeouts in 10 innings. Concerns about other teams potentially advancing him directly to the majors prompted the Angels to secure his spot on their roster, likely positioning him in the Triple-A bullpen as the new season commences.