Blue Jays' Michael Stefanic: Inks minors deal with Toronto
Rotowire
The Blue Jays signed Stefanic to a minor-league contract Wednesday, Nate Heisler of Klutch Sports reports.
Stefanic elected free agency after being outrighted off the Angels' 40-man roster in October. The 28-year-old has slashed just .232/.317/.275 over parts of three big-league seasons and will likely begin 2025 as a utility infielder at Triple-A Buffalo.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Bumped off roster
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Stefanic was outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday.
Stefanic earned a career-high 124 plate appearances in 2024 but maintained just a .556 OPS with zero home runs. Depending on the Angels' offseason moves, Stefanic could be a depth option along the infield in 2025.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Back in lineup Tuesday
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Stefanic (calf) will start at second base and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the White Sox, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.
Stefanic hadn't started in any of the last four games after he was removed from Friday's game against the Astros with calf tightness, but he felt well enough to make an appearance off the bench Sunday. His return to the lineup Wednesday indicates that he's healthy, but Stefanic will likely have to settle for more of a part-time role once Brandon Drury is fully recovers from a hamstring injury. Drury is back in the lineup Wednesday as the Angels' designated hitter following a five-game absence.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Dealing with minor tightness
Rotowire
Stefanic was removed from Friday's game versus the Astros due to right calf tightness, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Manager Ron Washington said after Friday's loss that Stefanic's injury is relatively minor, so an extended absence is unlikely. If he and Brandon Drury (hamstring) are both unable to play Saturday, Jack Lopez would be the favorite to start at second base.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Retreating to bench Wednesday
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Stefanic is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Stefanic will head to the bench after he went 1-for-9 with a walk, a run and an RBI while starting in each of the Angels' previous three games. With Anthony Rendon (oblique) recently landing on the injured list, Stefanic should have a chance at seeing steadier playing time in the Anaheim infield over the final two and a half weeks of the season.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Playing time dropping off
Rotowire
Stefanic will start at second base and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Though he'll be included in the lineup in the series finale, Stefanic's playing time appears to be drying up after he previously started five and four consecutive games earlier this month. Stefanic has gone just 1-for-24 over his last seven contests and will likely continue to play second fiddle at the keystone to Brandon Drury.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Likely to lose work with Rendon back
Rotowire
Stefanic is out of the lineup for the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Yankees, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.
Stefanic had occupied the keystone in four of the Angels' last five games, but his brief run of steady playing time will likely come to an end with the return of Anthony Rendon (back), who was activated from the injured list Tuesday. With Rendon starting at third base in the early game of Wednesday's doubleheader, Brandon Drury will shift from the hot corner to second base while bumping Stefanic back to the bench. The Angels should still have a regular spot in the lineup for Stefanic against left-handed pitching.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Gaining playing time at 2B
Rotowire
Stefanic will start at second base and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Mets.
Stefanic has now drawn four starts in six games since he was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake. Three of those starts have come against left-handed pitching, but he could end up getting regular work versus righties if the Angels opt to shift Brandon Drury off the keystone and have him fill in at third base while Luis Rengifo (wrist) and Anthony Rendon (back) are on the injured list. Stefanic has recorded a pair of base hits in both of his past two starts, bringing his batting average up to .275 over 40 at-bats with the big club this season.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Optioned to Salt Lake
Rotowire
The Angels optioned Stefanic to Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday.
Stefanic will be squeezed off the big-league roster Tuesday following the return of Miguel Sano (knee) from the injured list. The 28-year-old Stefanic has struggled to establish himself at the plate in 10 MLB games this season, going just 6-for-31 (.194) with four RBI, though he has been able to find success in the minors. He could be a candidate to return later this summer if the Angels run into any more problems with their infield depth.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Late addition to Friday's lineup
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Stefanic is starting at second base and batting eighth in Friday's game against the Dodgers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Stefanic was inserted into Friday's lineup after Brandon Drury was scratched due to an illness. Since being recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on June 8, Stefanic has played in seven major-league games, going 6-for-22 with four RBI.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Activated, optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Angels reinstated Stefanic (quad) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday and optioned him to Triple-A Salt Lake.
Stefanic has been on the injured list all season due to a left quad strain. He began playing rehab games at rookie ball May 13 and moved to Triple-A on May 21, going 9-for-19 with six RBI in six games with the Bees. He'll remain in Salt Lake despite being fully healthy, and Jose Cisnero (shoulder) will move to the 60-day IL to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Stefanic.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Stefanic (quadricep) began a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Monday, starting at second base and playing three innings while going 1-for-2 with an RBI.
On the mend from a left quad strain since late February, Stefanic has reached the final stage of his recovery program now that he's back playing in minor-league games. Since he's been out of commission for nearly two and a half months, Stefanic will presumably stick around in Arizona for a few more games before continuing his rehab at one of the Angels' higher-level affiliates. Once the Angels are confident that he's regained his timing at the plate and has put the quad injury in the rear-view mirror, Stefanic could return from the 60-day injured list around when he's first eligible in late May. He'll likely be ticketed for a utility role once he's reinstated, though Stefanic has a minor-league option remaining and could be sent to Triple-A Salt Lake if the Angels don't have room for him on the big-league roster.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Resumes baseball activity
Rotowire
Stefanic (quadriceps) has resumed light baseball activity at the Angels' training complex in Arizona, MLB.com reports.
Stefanic landed on the injured list March 28 after feeling discomfort in his left quad during the Angels' first spring training game. He initially resumed running and baseball activity but suffered a setback in mid-March and subsequently underwent an MRI that revealed a quad strain. It's unclear how long Stefanic will be out of action, and there's no guarantee that he'll have a spot on the big-league roster once he's ready to return.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Resumes baseball activity
Rotowire
Stefanic (quadricep) was cleared to resume baseball activities Wednesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Stefanic had been resting for the previous three days after he suffered a left quad strain in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers. Given the brevity of his shutdown period, Stefanic likely won't require too much time to get ramped back up, so he could rejoin the spring lineup within the next few days.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Returns to minors
Rotowire
Stefanic was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday.
Stefanic was recalled by the Halos on Friday and will return to Salt Lake after going 0-for-6 with two walks and a run in three games during the brief stint in the majors. The 27-year-old has a .488 OPS in 33 big-league plate appearances this season.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
The Angels recalled Stefanic from Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday.
Stefanic will likely operate as a backup on the Angels' infield as he returns to the majors with rosters expanding from 26 to 28. The 27-year-old carries a .195/.290/.232 career slash line in 94 plate appearances at baseball's highest level.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Stefanic was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday.
Stefanic has always been known for a strong hit tool and little else, and while he hit .349 at Triple-A this season, he only hit .190 with zero home runs in 25 MLB plate appearances. He was replaced on the active roster by Jordyn Adams.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Sporting season-long on-base streak
Rotowire
Stefanic is slashing .331/.438/.416 through 42 games this season with Triple-A Salt Lake, and he's reached base in every contest in which he's played.
Stefanic's on-base streak is actually at 51 extending back to last season, when he hit .314 with a .422 on-base percentage for the Triple-A club. The 27-year-old has proven to be a difficult out with a .401 OBP across 364 career minor-league contests, though he struggled in his first taste of the majors last year, slashing .197/.279/.230 over 69 plate appearances. Stefanic's ability to reach base could earn him another chance in the big leagues at some point, but his absence of power and speed limit his appeal as a future fantasy asset.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: On bench again
Rotowire
Stefanic is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Stefanic will sit for the third game in a row and appears to have lost out on an everyday role in the middle infield to fellow rookie Livan Soto. The 26-year-old rookie has gotten off to a disappointing start to his big-league career, producing a .459 OPS through his first 57 plate appearances with the Angels.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Sitting after three straight starts
Rotowire
Stefanic is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
He'll give way in the middle infield Monday to Livan Soto, who is being rewarded with a second straight start after going 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and an additional run in Sunday's 5-1. Stefanic had produced two hits in eight at-bats while starting in each of the previous three contests, and with David Fletcher (hand) recently joining Andrew Velazquez (knee) on the injured list, the rookie should have a fairly clear path to playing time over the final two and a half weeks of the season.
