BALTIMORE -- After trading five players ahead of Monday’s 3 p.m. PT Trade Deadline, the Angels made a slew of roster moves ahead of Tuesday’s series opener against the Orioles, including activating newly acquired catcher/designated hitter Moisés Ballesteros.
Flamethrowing reliever Ben Joyce and veteran infielder Adam Frazier were both activated from the injured list, while right-hander Ryan Johnson was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake to start on Thursday. Right-hander Shaun Anderson and lefty Blake Weiman both had their contracts selected to join the bullpen, while outfielder/designated hitter Jorge Soler was designated for assignment.
Manager Kurt Suzuki admitted it was a tough day seeing the Angels part ways with players such as right-hander José Soriano, right fielder Jo Adell and relievers Ryan Zeferjahn, Kirby Yates and Brent Suter via trade. But he’s excited about the future of the franchise with the young talent it received in the trades, including Ballesteros, who was in the lineup at designated hitter and batting sixth at Camden Yards.
“We always talk about the relationships, and it just makes it tougher,” Suzuki said. “But we feel like this is the direction that we're going right now. This is what we have and we're excited about this opportunity to move forward.”
Ballesteros was part of the return for Zeferjahn, along with right-hander Mason McGwire, who is the son of Mark McGwire and ranked as the club’s No. 15 prospect by MLB Pipeline. The 22-year-old Ballesteros has slashed .249/.328/.408 with eight homers, eight doubles and 34 RBIs in 79 games in the Majors over the last two seasons.
Ballesteros is expected to get regular playing time, especially with Soler now DFA’d, and will also start occasionally at catcher as the Angels work to improve his defense. He was ranked among MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects before each of the past two seasons.
“I'm excited to put on this new uniform, new opportunities, and I'm excited to be here,” Ballesteros said. “I’m a good person, a good teammate and I just really enjoy playing.”
With Adell and Soler out of the mix, Wade Meckler will also get more playing time in the outfield, while Jose Siri and Josh Lowe will also see plenty of action. Superstar Mike Trout might also get more time at DH with Soler gone, and Frazier will mostly come off the bench and see action in both the infield and outfield.
“He'll get maybe more DH time,” Suzuki said of Trout. “I know Trouty, he loves to play center field. But when he feels the need to DH and get off his feet, we'll definitely make that happen.”
The return of Joyce is also exciting for the Angels, given his elite stuff with his fastball hitting as high as 105.5 mph last year. He’s finally back after undergoing right shoulder surgery in April 2025, and the Angels plan to use him in high-leverage roles until he works his way back into closing. Los Angeles will use a closer-by-committee approach until Joyce is ready to close.
“It's been a long, long journey, but I’m here now, and I'm grateful for it,” Joyce said. “I feel like I'm ready to go and excited for it.”
Johnson also rejoins the rotation, while the Angels will need to bring up another starter for Friday’s series opener in Miami. Right-hander George Klassen, the club’s No. 10 prospect, is a top candidate for that start. And lefty Yusei Kikuchi (left shoulder inflammation) is nearing a return, as he had his rehab assignment transferred to Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday and is expected to make two starts there before returning in mid-August.
“We saw some glimpses of the capabilities of being a reliable starter,” Suzuki said of Johnson. “With his youth on his side, we feel like giving him another opportunity was fair.”
Anderson and Weiman give the Angels options in the bullpen, with Anderson capable of being the long reliever. Weiman, 30, was called up for the first time after posting a 1.93 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings at Double-A Rocket City.
“He's an older guy that we signed as a Minor League free agent and is making his debut, but really good numbers in the Minor Leagues,” Suzuki said. “He gives us an option down there against lefties.”