The Los Angeles Angels have secured the services of former Texas Rangers outfielder Willie Calhoun, marking his return to the American League West. Calhoun’s signing comes under a minor-league deal, coupled with an invitation to Major League spring training. The intriguing twist lies in the fact that while Calhoun never had the opportunity to play under Ron Washington during his stint with the Rangers, circumstances have aligned as Washington, the former Rangers manager, is set to lead the Angels in the upcoming season.
Calhoun’s recent tenure was with the New York Yankees in the previous season, where he compiled a slash line of .239/.309/.403/.712, contributing five home runs and 16 RBI across 44 games. He briefly assumed a starting role for the Yankees due to injuries in their outfield, including star player Aaron Judge. However, on July 31, the Yankees outrighted Calhoun to Triple-A, and he chose free agency a day later.
Having joined the Rangers in a trade deadline move in 2017, Calhoun was a pivotal part of a deal that sent Yu Darvish, the Rangers’ ace at the time, to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Throughout his career, Calhoun has maintained a lifetime batting average of .240, with a standout season in 2019 where he boasted a .269 average, along with 21 homers and 48 RBI in 83 games. Despite these highlights, injuries and inconsistency at the plate remained challenges for Calhoun.
In August 2021, he faced a setback with a diagnosis of a left ulna bone fracture. By 2022, Calhoun had fallen out of favor with the Rangers, leading to his demotion to Triple-A Round Rock. In a strategic move, he expressed his intention to head to Triple-A with the goal of positioning himself for a trade. However, the Rangers failed to find any takers, resulting in his release on June 10. Subsequently, Calhoun joined the San Francisco Giants, predominantly playing for their Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento. He spent a brief period with the Giants in September before being designated for assignment.
Now, as Calhoun embarks on a new chapter with the Los Angeles Angels, his journey in the American League West continues, providing an opportunity for resurgence under the leadership of Ron Washington. The minor-league deal and spring training invitation set the stage for Calhoun to showcase his skills and potentially earn a spot on the Angels’ Major League roster for the upcoming season.
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