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Angels sign utility infielder Kevin Newman

Jeff Fletcher, The Orange County Register on

Published in Baseball

The Angels signed veteran infielder Kevin Newman, who could provide depth across the infield, the team announced on Thursday.

Shortstop Zach Neto, third baseman Anthony Rendon and utility infielder Luis Rengifo will all be coming off injuries next season, and Newman could fill in for any of them.

The Angels previously added Scott Kingery, who has a similar profile.

Newman’s deal, first reported by The Athletic, will pay him $2.5 million in 2025. It includes $2.5 million club option for 2026, with a $250,000 buyout.

“Obviously we have some some infielders that have had some health things in the past, and are currently going through some things,” Angels general manager Perry Minasian said. “I think middle-infield depth in general is very hard to acquire, especially in this market. We took a look at it, and we felt like (Newman) was one of the better players for us.”

To create a spot for Newman on the 40-man roster, the Angels designated Matt Thaiss for assignment. Thaiss had been the backup catcher for the past two years, but this week’s signing of Travis d’Arnaud knocked him down the depth chart.

Newman, 31, is coming off a season in which he hit .278 with a .686 OPS for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played 55 games at shortstop, 44 games at second, 10 games at first and eight games at third.

Newman had a total of 10 defensive runs saved in 754 1/3 innings in the infield this season, according to Sports Info Solutions. For comparison, Neto had 11 in 1,332 2/3 innings.

 

“He can really play defense at second base,” Minasian said. “It’s very good at second. It’s solid at short. So somebody that fit with currently, how we’re built, and with what we currently have. He’s somebody that’s going to help us in a lot of different ways.”

Offensively, Newman has a .262 average and a .665 OPS in parts of seven major league seasons, the first five with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was the Pirates’ everyday shortstop in 2019, when he hit .308 with 12 homers and an .800 OPS. That was the only season in which his OPS was higher than .700.

The Angels need as many options as possible in the infield because of the injury concerns with their starters.

Neto underwent shoulder surgery earlier this month. Minasian had said it’s possible he would miss some of the start of the season.

Rendon has had constant injury issues throughout the past four years. He is expected to be healthy for the start of spring training.

Rengifo had wrist surgery that cost him the final two months of last season. He is also expected to be ready at the start of spring training.


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