Knebel agreed to a minor-league contract with the Angels on Tuesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Knebel was released by the White Sox at the beginning of the month, and he'll now get a chance to carve out a role for himself in the Angels organization. After completing his recovery from shoulder surgery, 32-year-old righty made his season debut in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on June 18 before eventually moving up to the Triple-A level shortly before the All-Star break. Over his six outings with Triple-A Charlotte, Knebel tossed 5.1 scoreless frames while striking out eight and walking two. If he's able to remain effective with his new organization at Triple-A Salt Lake, Knebel may be called upon to pitch in the majors for the first time since August 2022.
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Corey Knebel: Released by ChiSox
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The White Sox released Knebel on Thursday, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Knebel had been on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Charlotte all season until July 9 while rehabbing a right shoulder capsule tear he suffered in August of 2022. Since returning from the IL, he's thrown 5.1 shutout innings while striking out eight batters and walking two. Despite his success, the 32-year-old righty will now enter the open market and should have little trouble finding another gig elsewhere.
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White Sox's Corey Knebel: Back at Triple-A after surgery
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Triple-A Charlotte reinstated Knebel (shoulder) from its 7-day injured list Tuesday.
Knebel made his season debut for Charlotte in Tuesday's 10-7 loss to Durham, tossing a perfect inning out of the bullpen. The 32-year-old had been on the shelf all season while recovering from right shoulder surgery, which he underwent in August 2022. Prior to being activated by Charlotte, Knebel made seven rehab appearances between the rookie-level Arizona Complex League and High-A Winston-Salem, giving up seven earned runs on six hits and five walks while striking out four over 6.1 innings.
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White Sox's Corey Knebel: Goes to minor-league camp
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The White Sox reassigned Knebel (shoulder) to minor-league camp Wednesday, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.
Knebel didn't make a Cactus League appearance as he eases back into things following right shoulder surgery. He could eventually work his way into the bullpen mix with the White Sox, but it's not clear when he might be game-ready.
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White Sox's Corey Knebel: Behind schedule
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White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz said Thursday that Knebel (shoulder) is a bit behind other relievers in camp, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.
Knebel is coming back from right shoulder surgery that he had back in August of 2022. He is considered healthy but will need to throw a few more bullpen sessions before being cleared to appear in Cactus League games.
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White Sox's Corey Knebel: Invited to White Sox camp
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Knebel signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training.
Knebel hasn't pitched anywhere since suffering a right shoulder capsule tear in August of 2022. He's apparently healthy now, though, so the White Sox will see what he has in spring training. When we last saw the 32-year-old, he collected a 3.43 ERA and 41:28 K:BB over 44.2 innings while notching 12 saves with the Phillies in 2022. Given the state of Chicago's bullpen, it wouldn't be that shocking if Knebel makes the team and pitches in high-leverage situations, provided he is able to rediscover his pre-surgery form.
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Phillies' Corey Knebel: Done for season
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Knebel was transferred to the 60-day injured list Sunday and won't return this season after being diagnosed with a tear in his right shoulder capsule, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Knebel was already on the 15-day IL, but there had been hope that he would be able to return this season before he received the latest diagnosis of his shoulder injury. He'll receive stem-cell treatment in an effort to avoid surgery, though the issue could linger into the 2023 campaign. The Phillies' bullpen is left shorthanded, as closer Seranthony Dominguez (triceps) landed on the IL on Sunday.
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Phillies' Corey Knebel: Placed on 15-day IL
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Knebel (lat) was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday.
Knebel suffered a lat strain in Sunday's loss to the Mets and he will now be unavailable for at least 15 days while nursing the injury. Sam Coonrod (shoulder) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Monday and will replace him in the Phillies' bullpen.
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Phillies' Corey Knebel: Pulled with injury
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Knebel was removed from Sunday's game game against the Mets with an apparent injury, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Knebel walked two batters and threw only five of 14 pitches for strikes in one-third of an inning before exiting with an athletic trainer. The veteran right-hander should be considered day-to-day until more information is available.
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Phillies' Corey Knebel: Picks up 12th save
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Knebel allowed a walk and a strikeout across a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Saturday against the Cardinals.
Knebel earned his first save since June 10 and his 12th of the season. He has pitched in a setup role across the last month with both Brad Hand and Seranthony Dominguez working ahead of him in save situations. However, both Hand and Dominguez pitched on consecutive days prior to Saturday's contest, which allowed Knebel to make a presumably brief return to the closer role. Knebel has turned in eight consecutive scoreless appearances, during which he's maintained a 7:3 K:BB.
Knebel struck out two batters in a perfect seventh inning during the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Nationals.
Knebel was removed from the closer role earlier in the week after a run of poor appearances, but his first outing away from the spotlight couldn't have gone much better. He was tasked with keeping the Phillies' deficit at two runs and did just that, getting Victor Robles to line out before striking out Lane Thomas and Juan Soto. It's unlikely that Knebel reclaims his closing job after just a single outing, but a run of similar performances could at least put him back in the saves mix.
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Phillies' Corey Knebel: Moving out of closer's role
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Interim manager Rob Thomson said Wednesday that Knebel will be moved out of the closer's role for now, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Knebel suffered a shoulder injury over the weekend but returned to the mound Tuesday against the Marlins and was charged with the blown save by allowing three unearned runs on a hit and two walks while failing to record an out. The right-hander has struggled with his command over the last few weeks, posting a 4.26 ERA, 6:7 K:BB and 2.21 WHIP in 6.1 innings over his last seven starts. He'll attempt to right the ship while pitching in lower-leverage situations, while the Phillies will use a closer-by-committee approach for now. Brad Hand and Seranthony Dominguez seem like the top candidates for saves.
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Phillies' Corey Knebel: Blows save in return
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Knebel (2-5) blew the save and took the loss after he did not record an out and allowed three unearned runs on a hit and two walks in an 11-9 defeat Tuesday against Miami.
After the first batter reached on an error, Knebel allowed the next three batters to reach safely. Only four of his 16 pitches were strikes in his first outing since experiencing shoulder tightness Saturday. He is now 11-for-15 in save opportunities and has a less-than-stellar 23:16 K:BB in 25 innings.
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Phillies' Corey Knebel: Encouraged after playing catch
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Knebel (shoulder) felt encouraged after playing catch without issues Sunday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Knebel felt shoulder tightness while warming up Saturday, but it looks as though he may have avoided a serious injury. The Phillies don't believe Knebel has any structural damage, so while he may miss another day or two, a long-term absence doesn't appear to be on the table at the moment.
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Phillies' Corey Knebel: Testing tight shoulder
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Knebel will throw Sunday to test his tight shoulder and hopes to miss only a day or two, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
The issue popped up for Knebel while he warmed up in preparation to enter Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks. While it's good to see he's not too worried about the issue, players tend to skew toward the optimistic side regarding their own health. Knebel doesn't have the strongest recent health track record, as he missed all of 2019 due to Tommy John surgery and was limited to 25.2 innings last year due to a lat strain. If his optimism turns out to be unwarranted, Seranthony Dominguez looks like the best candidate to take his closer job, though the role could also go to a veteran like Brad Hand.
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Phillies' Corey Knebel: Dealing with tight shoulder
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Knebel experienced tightness in his shoulder while warming up during Saturday's game against Arizona, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Knebel ultimately wasn't called upon to close the game, as the Phillies scored a run in the bottom of the eighth to extend their lead to 4-0, but it looks as though the veteran righty probably wouldn't have entered even if the lead remained at three runs. He'll be evaluated Sunday, with a trip to the injured list seemingly a possibility. Seranthony Dominguez's numbers suggest he deserves the first shot at the closer role should Knebel be forced to miss time, though seniority could grant Brad Hand and his 127 career saves the opportunity instead.
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Phillies' Corey Knebel: Save in close game
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Knebel picked up the save Friday against the Diamondbacks, striking out one and allowing one hit in one scoreless inning.
Knebel entered Friday's game with a two-run lead which he did not relinquish. He picked up his 11th save of the year and his third in June. The righty seems to have a clear hold on the closer role despite three blown saves and four losses this season.
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Phillies' Corey Knebel: Grabs 10th save
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Knebel tossed a scoreless ninth inning, walking three and striking out one batter on his way to a save in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Brewers.
After the Phillies scored two runs in the top of the inning, Knebel was called on to protect a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the ninth. He made things interesting, walking Andrew McCutchen to open the inning before later loading the bases by issuing two more free passes with two outs in the frame. Knebel was able to get Pablo Reyes swinging to end the contest, securing his 10th save in 13 chances this season. The closer now owns a 3.38 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with 22 strikeouts over 24 innings in 24 appearances in 2022.
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Phillies' Corey Knebel: Nails down ninth save
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Knebel struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his ninth save of the season in a 6-5 win over the Giants.
After a couple shaky appearances to close out May, Knebel got a fresh start in June and looked sharp, picking up his first save since May 18. The right-hander is only 9-for-12 in converting save chances this season, and his 3.27 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 20:10 K:BB through 22 innings reflect his lack of dominance.
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Phillies' Corey Knebel: Tagged with loss, blown save
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Knebel (1-4) took the loss and blown save during Sunday's 5-4 defeat at the hands of the Mets, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk with two strikeouts in 1.1 innings.
After Philadelphia took the lead in the eighth inning, Knebel served up a game-tying Nick Plummer solo shot to lead of the ninth and blow the save. Manager Joe Girardi stuck with the righty for the 10th, and the 30-year-old again let in a run on a walk-off double, pushing his loss and blow-save tally to four and three respectively -- both of which rank second worst in MLB among relievers. Knebel now carries a 3.15 ERA and 1.30 WHIP through 20 innings and hasn't converted a save since May 18.
