TEMPE, Ariz. — Don’t expect much about the Angels’ catching situation to be determined in spring training.
Martin Maldonado and Carlos Perez figure to be the two catchers on the 25-man roster when the season begins, but the question of which one plays more is likely to be an ongoing issue throughout the season.
Right now, Manager Mike Scioscia said he is going to just let it play out.
“Maldonado hasn’t caught 100 games yet,” Scioscia said. “Hopefully he’ll be ready to go catch and take that leap to the next level. I don’t know where he’s going to fit in. If they both catch 80, they both catch 80. If it’s 90-70, it’s 90-70. If Carlos is playing his butt off and catches a little more, he catches a little more. If Maldonado catches and 100 and he’s 60, so be it. But that remains to be seen.”
One catcher who doesn’t figure to be in the mix is free agent Matt Wieters. Although the All-Star catcher remains unsigned, and has presumably gotten cheaper, so far the Angels have not had any serious talks about signing him.
Guerra clears waivers
Right-hander Deolis Guerra, who was designed for assignment last week to make room for Austin Adams, cleared waivers and was outrighted to the Angels’ Triple-A roster. Guerra, however, still has to decide whether to accept the outright or become a free agent.
Angels down a coach
The Angels will have one fewer major league coach than last year because they didn’t replace Gary DiSarcina, who left to become the Boston Red Sox bench coach.
Alfredo Griffin will return to coaching first base while also handling the defense for the infielders. Assistant hitting coach Paul Sorrento, who spent much of his time in the batting cage during games last year, will be in the dugout more.
The Angels initially moved Griffin from coaching first because they wanted him to be able to work with the infielders while the Angels were hitting, but Scioscia said bench coach Dino Ebel will now help in that area.
Tropeano on the mend
Nick Tropeano, who had Tommy John surgery Aug. 16, said his rehab is going well and he’s hoping to begin throwing sometime in the next few weeks.
Tropeano said he would probably be throwing already, but the Angels are taking it slowly with him because they don’t plan to have him pitch at all in 2017.
Espinosa gloving it
New second baseman Danny Espinosa has a green and red glove he got when he thought he was going to be playing for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. Espinosa said he decided against participating in the WBC because he wanted to get to know his new team instead.
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