SEATTLE — The Angels are on the verge of getting back the player who has been their most consistent offensive performer all season.
Luis Rengifo, who has been out since July 3 with left wrist inflammation, said he was set to go through a full workout before Monday’s game, including all the normal work he would do before a game.
Asked if he could be activated as soon as Tuesday, Rengifo said: “Maybe.”
Angels manager Ron Washington wouldn’t commit to getting Rengifo back, but he was encouraged that they’ve gotten this close.
“If Rengifo thinks he can go tomorrow, that’s real good news,” Washington said. “We’ll be happy to have him back whenever that is, but right now, we just got to wait and see how he makes it through the whole day today.”
Of course, Rengifo’s value to the 2024 Angels is limited, because the Angels are already out of the race.
Getting him back on the field a week before the July 30 trade deadline, however, would help ease any concerns of other team in the market to trade for him.
Rengifo, 27, is arguably the Angels’ most attractive trade chip because he’s hitting .315 with an .800 OPS, plays multiple positions and is under control for next year too. Because the Angels can keep Rengifo, they have some leverage in trade talks.
TROUT NEXT?
Mike Trout, who has been out recovering from surgery to repair a torn meniscus, is scheduled to DH on Tuesday at Triple-A Salt Lake, and then play seven innings of center field on Wednesday.
“We’ll see how it goes in Salt Lake City and make a call from there,” Washington said. “The thing is to get him seven innings on defense and see how it goes. Then we’ll make a decision from there, along with him. The hitting part we’re not concerned about. It’s running around in the outfield and that type of stuff.”
Trout has been out since April 29, and he had surgery on May 3. He’s already weeks beyond the typical rehab time for this type of surgery.
QUIJADA RETURNS
Left-hander José Quijada was activated on Monday, completing his 15-month rehab from Tommy John surgery.
“I’m very excited,” Quijada said through an interpreter. “Coming back from surgery is tough. I’m emotional.”
Quijada, 28, had just begun to establish himself as a reliable late-inning reliever before he was hurt. He began last season with eight straight scoreless outings, before allowing six runs in the final two outings before the injury was diagnosed.
Quijada allowed two runs in 7⅔ innings, with 13 strikeouts, in rehab outings over the past month.
“We’re not going to throw him out there right away in high-leverage situations,” Washington said. “We’re gonna give him a chance to go out there and get his feet wet. And the more he produces, the more he may move up in the pecking order.”
NOTES
Right-hander Griffin Canning, who complained of elbow discomfort when he left his start on Friday, said on Monday that he’s now fine. He is planning to make his next turn, in the series finale on Wednesday. …
The Angels optioned right-hander Jack Kochanowicz to Double-A, clearing a spot for Quijada. Kochanowicz gave up 11 earned runs in seven innings in two starts. “We tried to make him understand that he can go to Double-A, just use his sinker if he wants to, and he’s gonna get outs,” Washington said. “But to pitch at the major league level, he has to start incorporating his other pitches, learn how to use them behind in the count. Start learning how to evacuate the strike zone when it’s time to evacuate the strike zone. The things that it takes to be a quality pitcher. He has them. He just doesn’t have the total knowledge of it.” …
The Angels designated right-hander Adam Cimber for assignment to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Quijada. Cimber was in Arizona rehabbing a shoulder injury. …
Right-hander Trey Gregory-Alford, the Angels’ 11th-round draft pick, has reportedly agreed to a deal, forgoing a scholarship to the University of Virginia. Gregory-Alford, who hit 99 mph at the Draft Combine last month, was one of the nation’s top high school pitchers, but he slipped in the draft because of his commitment to college. Gregory-Alford said the Angels raised their offer twice from an initial offer of $1.5 million.
UP NEXT
Angels (RHP José Soriano, 5-7, 3.71 ERA) at Mariners (RHP Logan Gilbert, 6-5, 2.79 ERA), Tuesday, 6:40 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM