Giants Sign Ex-Angels Pitcher After Injury-Riddled Season To Big League Deal

San Francisco officially signed a former member of the Angels

One former member of the Los Angeles Angels has found a new home with the San Francisco Giants.

Seven days after he was designated for assingment, Austin Warren joined the Giants on a big league deal after missing most of the 2023 season due to injury.

In a corresponding move, San Francisco placed left-handed pitcher Robbie Ray on the 60-day Injured List. Acquired from the Seattle Mariners in January for Anthony DeSclafani and Mitch Haniger, Ray is recovering from Tommy John surgery and is expected to be out until later this year.

Warren was selected in the sixth round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft by the Angels and worked his way up through the organization. The 28-year-old eventually made his big league debut in 2021.

The right-hander shone in a small sample size in his first season. Warren had a 1.77 ERA and had a 20-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 20.1 innings across 16 games. 

Warren only appeared in 14 games with Los Angeles in 2022 and had a 5.63 ERA. He was more impressive in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, where he posted a 2.12 ERA in 29 appearances with the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees. 

In 2023, Warren was only able to make seven total appearances as he dealt with injuries. Warren underwent Tommy John surgery in May of last year, and has been recovering ever since. 

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, he's currently throwing at a distance of 135 feet.

The Angels designated Warren for assignment in order to make room on their 40-man roster for reliever Guillermo Zuñiga.

Perhaps the Angels were unwilling to wait on Warren to help a bullpen that finished 27th in MLB in ERA last year. The Giants weren't willing to wait to sign him.