Angels Claim Infielder Off Waivers From AL Central Squad
The Los Angeles Angels have claimed infielder Alfonso Rivas off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians. Rivas adds to the overall depth of the Angels' roster for next season, and he will be given a chance to make the team.
Rivas spent last season with the San Diego Padres to start out, mainly spending time in with Triple-A El Paso. He hit .319 with eight home runs and 33 runs batted in for the Padres' top minor league affiliate before he was called up to the big leagues.
Rivas then appeared in eight games with the Padres, hitting .200 with zero home runs and one run batted in. Rivas was then traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates at the trade deadline and appeared in 40 games with the Pirates.
The veteran hit .234 with three home runs and 14 runs batted in after the trade. He was claimed by the Guardians in November, but now lands with the Angels for 2024.
Rivas will provide the team with some extra depth along the edges and could fill in some needed bench roles if he makes the team. This signing isn't massive, but the more depth a team has, the better.
The Angels' farm system ranked 28th in MLB Pipeline's most recent midseason rankings. Unless the Angels' scouts badly misevaluated Rivas, there's a decent chance he offers a better alternative than comparable players in the organization.
