The Los Angeles Angels made a move to strengthen their bullpen depth on Friday, adding another arm to a pitching staff in need of reinforcements as they sit near the bottom of the American League standings.
According to an announcement from the club, the Angels claimed right-handed pitcher off waivers from the Boston Red Sox. Boston had designated the 28-year-old rookie reliever for assignment earlier in the week, opening the door for Los Angeles to bring him into the organization.
The Angels entered the move with three available spots on their 40-man roster following the trade deadline, allowing them to add Watson without needing to make a corresponding roster move. He is expected to join the active roster and provide additional depth for the bullpen.
Watson originally joined the Red Sox after Boston acquired him from the Athletics following the Rule 5 Draft. During his time with Boston, the right-hander appeared in 55.2 innings and recorded a 4.53 ERA while striking out 17.9% of the hitters he faced.
The Red Sox’s decision to acquire reliever Erik Miller from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for former top prospect Marcelo Mayer ultimately forced Watson off their roster, leading to his designation for assignment.
The Angels had a clear need for bullpen help after dealing away several relievers at the trade deadline, including Kirby Yates, Brent Suter, and Ryan Zeferjahn. Watson’s arrival gives the club another option to absorb innings and compete for a role in the relief corps.
Earlier in his minor league career, Watson transitioned from a starting pitcher into a bullpen role, a change that helped him become a more effective relief option. Los Angeles is hoping that his experience and versatility can help replace some of the depth lost during the deadline and provide stability for the remainder of the season.
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Angels Get Huge Mike Trout Revelation After Finally Embracing Long-Awaited Rebuild
The Los Angeles Angels have surprisingly earned plenty of praise for the moves they made at the MLB trade deadline. After years of avoiding a full-scale rebuild, the Angels finally appear ready to embrace a different direction and begin reshaping the organization for the future.
That approach has been viewed positively around baseball, and even one of the franchise’s biggest stars, Mike Trout, has acknowledged the work the team did at the deadline. Rather than criticizing the organization for moving players away, Trout publicly gave the Angels credit for their performance and appeared supportive of the direction they are taking.
Naturally, that raised an important question: Does Trout still see himself remaining in Anaheim as the Angels enter what could be a lengthy rebuilding process?
Apparently, his answer has not changed.
When Trout was asked by MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger whether the Angels’ decision to sell at the trade deadline had altered his thoughts about remaining with the organization, the longtime superstar made his position clear.
“Nah, it hasn’t changed anything.”
That response reinforces just how committed Trout remains to the Angels. Despite spending years on a team that has struggled to consistently contend, the three-time MVP has continued to show remarkable loyalty to the organization that drafted him.
Trout’s commitment to Anaheim has generated plenty of debate over the years. Some critics have questioned whether his willingness to remain with the Angels demonstrates a lack of urgency to win, particularly given how rarely the team has competed for the postseason during his career. Others, however, have viewed his loyalty in a completely different light, praising Trout for wanting to build a winning team in the place where he has spent his entire professional career.
Regardless of which side of that debate someone falls on, Trout appears to know exactly what he wants. He has spent his entire major league career with the Angels, and based on his latest comments, there is no indication that he is suddenly looking for a way out.
The possibility of Trout finishing his career in Anaheim is becoming increasingly realistic. At 34 years old, he still has several seasons remaining on his contract, which runs through 2030. More importantly, his no-trade clause gives him significant control over whether he would ever be moved to another organization.
That means the Angels may not have to worry about losing their franchise icon unless Trout himself decides he wants a change.
For now, there is little evidence that such a request is coming. His comments following the trade deadline suggest that the Angels’ decision to begin rebuilding has not changed his desire to remain in Anaheim.
Whether Trout ultimately spends his entire MLB career wearing an Angels uniform remains impossible to know. But for the time being, the superstar appears committed to seeing what the next chapter of the franchise looks like—and potentially helping the organization build its way back into contention.