Angels News: Halos DFA Former All-Star to Make Room for Giolito, Lopez

A roster reset claims a victim on the 40 man.

The Angels firmly announced they are in on the 2023 season with two big moves on Wednesday. Well, one move and one non-move. First, Shohei Ohtani isn't going anywhere. Second, the Halos acquired one of the best starting pitchers available on the market in Lucas Giolito. And today we have the fallout of that move.

Angels insider Jeff Fletcher of the OC Register was among those to report that to make room on the roster for Giolito and Reyanldo Lopez, the club transferred reliever Ben Joyce from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day and, the big one, designated first baseman Jared Walsh for assignment.

Lucas Giolito is in Toronto and he is starting tomorrow.

Lopez will be here in Detroit today

The Angels moved Ben Joyce to the 60-day IL and DFA’d Jared Walsh.

— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) July 27, 2023

The Walsh news is certainly shocking but not surprising. The 2021 All-Star has struggled mightily over the last two seasons and absolutely fell off a cliff this season hitting just .119 in 28 games. He's been suffering through some physical issues including persistent headaches.

With the DFA, 29 other teams will be able to claim Walsh before he potentially hits a fork in the road. If he goes unclaimed -- and he almost certainly will -- he'll then need to decide whether to forego his 2023 salary and become a free agent, or accept his assignment to Triple-A, as Jeff Fletcher noted here.

RHP Ben Joyce has been on the IL since June 10th with ulnar neuritis in his right elbow. The earliest he would return is some time in Mid-August, if he does return this season, so the 60-man move isn't much of a change of plans for the rookie reliever.

He allowed 2 runs in 4 innings this season.

For more on Giolito and Lopez, check out this article.