The Los Angeles Angels announced they trade infielder David Fletcher and catcher Max Stassi to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Evan White and Tyler Thomas.
Moving the pair of veterans to the Braves signals a move to eliminate a logjam at two positions, now that general manager Perry Minasian has some productive options at both. Fletcher spent the entirety of his big league career with the Angels, now entering his age-30 season.
In addition to Fletcher, the Angels dealt Stassi, who missed all of 2023 with a personal family matter. The productive offensive catcher joins the Braves organization, but with a few options ahead of him on their Major League roster, playing time won’t be an early vision unless they make another deal.
The veteran catcher has one more guaranteed year attached to his current contract, with a club option for the 2025 season worth $7.5 million, including a $500,000 buyout. Stassi join the Angels during the 2019 season, earning an extension for his steady flow of offense, but has been around league average since 2021.
In return, the Angels shed both the salary of Fletcher and Stassi, and receive White and Thomas.
White is a former first-round pick by the Seattle Mariners in the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft, and has racked just 84 games of big league time. He was recently dealt to the Braves from the Mariners last week.
He missed a majority of the 2023 season in Triple-A while dealing with a left adductor strain. In 279 MLB at-bats, White posted a .543 on-base plus slugging with 10 home runs, 35 RBI, and 27 runs scored.
Thomas, posted his best season in 2023 in professional baseball. The 27-year-old has spent the majority of his big league career in the minors, but across 34.2 innings pitched between Double and Triple-A, he posted a 2.86 ERA, 1.21 WHIP with a .232 batting average allowed.
The former Fresno State product will have an opportunity to pitch with the Angels, with a need for arms held as a high priority at the upper levels of their farm system.
Angels manager Ron Washington will have influence by making ‘people better’
With a load of uncertainty on the roster with the mixture of youth and solid veterans that still includes Mike Trout, the Angels have one of the most beloved coaches. Ron Washington last held a head coaching job with the Texas Rangers in 2014, following an eight-year run.
His work with Braves infielders was met with high praise, which the Angels front office took note of and is another plus for the hands-on style of coaching.
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