The Los Angeles Angels announced on Sunday morning that Max Stassi will miss the remainder of the 2023 season after being placed on the restricted list due to a personal family matter. Stassi is missing the entirety of the 2023 season, but figures to be back for 2024.
Stassi had been out for the entire year due to the same undisclosed personal matter, but the team had not made a determination on his status either way. They finally did so on Sunday.
“Max Stassi has been placed on the restricted list effective September 2, 2023,” the Angels said in a press release. “Max informed the Angels that while he is in a position to resume activities to return to MLB, he has voluntarily chosen not to do so for the remainder of the 2023 season as a result of a serious family medical issue.
“Out of respect for Max and his family, the Angels will not have any further comment. The Angels wish Max and his family all the best.”
Stassi’s health and well-being — including that of his family — is more important than any return to baseball. It’s important that Stassi take the time he needs for his family and he can return to the game whenever he is ready to do so.
Stassi is under contract for the 2024 season for $7 million, followed by a $7.5 million club option on the 2025 campaign. With the emergence of Logan O’Hoppe, it is unclear what role, if any, Stassi would play upon his return. But that remains secondary to his family issue.
Hunter Renfroe was confused by waiver decision
The Los Angeles Angels were buyers at the MLB trade deadline but have since fallen out of contention, which amounted to them placing Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo López, Hunter Renfroe, Matt Moore, Dominic Leone and Randal Grichuk on waivers.
The current system has been in place since 2019, when MLB eliminated the August waiver trade period. Only a handful of players are placed on waivers now, but the names usually don’t get out to the public.
That wasn’t the case with the Angels as all six players who were placed on waivers eventually leaked to social media. Renfroe discussed the whirlwind of a week and said his teammates were confused about the process, according to Zack Meisel and C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic:
“I don’t know if anybody had really heard of it, honestly,” Renfroe said. “It’s one of those things where it’s not really talked about. It’s never really out in public as far as waivers stuff goes. Nobody really knew or understood what was going on.”
