The Los Angeles Angels have many reasons to be excited. They have a new general manager in Jerry Dipoto, who surrounded himself with a new staff that bring with them the hope of something new. But more importantly, the Angels have outfielder Mike Trout, who introduced himself to Anaheim in 2011. The good news for Trout is that, contrary to previous thought, he is eligible for the Rookie of the Year award in 2012.

Major league rules grant rookie status to players with “not more than 130 at bats or 50 innings pitched in the major leagues during a previous season or seasons, nor more than 45 days on a major league roster during the 25-player limit (excluding time in military service, or on the disabled list).” Trout had just 123 at-bats with the Angels in 2011, but he appeared to have enough service time to disqualify him from rookie status with 56 days prior to September 1.

However, the Angels’ PR staff explained why Trout is still eligible for rookie status:

Was selected to Major League roster on July 8, 2011.

Received an optional assignment on August 1, 2011; thus, was on the 25-man roster for 25 days from July 8^th-July 31^st.

Was recalled on August 19, 2011; thus, was on the 25-man roster for 13 days from August 19^th-August 31^st.

Thus, Trout was on the 25-man roster for 38 days in 2011.

Since Trout was on option for less than 20 days before being recalled again, he is retroactively credited with the days while he was on option.

Even though he now gets credit for those days, the fact remains that he was an active player on the 25-man roster for just 38 days in 2011.

Since he was under 45 active days on the active 25-man roster in 2011, he keeps his rookie status for the 2012 season.

So congratulations Mike Trout, you have a chance to win Rookie of the Year next season. Now all you have to do is get playing time on a team that has Peter Bourjos in centerfield and $41 million total committed to corner outfielders Vernon Wells and Torii Hunter, plus another $9 million to designated hitter Bobby Abreu.

For more news on Mike Trout and the Angels, be sure to read Halos Heaven.

The Los Angeles Angels have been my favorite MLB team since childhood. I’m grateful to have seen some wonderful players wear the club’s uniform.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, here are five Angels players I’m thankful for:

Tim Salmon

Tim Salmon is my all-time favorite Angel. I was fortunate enough to see him begin his career with the team in 1992, and I followed him all the way through his retirement in 2006. Salmon had a knack for getting a clutch hit whenever the Angels needed one, and he was always there to make a play when the club needed him. Of course, I’ll never forget the vital role he had on the 2002 World Series team. Most of all, I’m thankful that he stayed with the Angels for his entire career. The days when a player sticks with one club are just about over, but Salmon was the exception.

Nolan Ryan

I never got to see Nolan Ryan don an Angels uniform, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be thankful for what he did for the team. When Ryan joined the Angels in 1972, the young franchise had yet to make its mark in Major League Baseball. Ryan changed that in his eight seasons with the club, during which he threw four no-hitters. I still consider him one of the greatest Angels’ ever.

Jim Abbott

Jim Abbott pitched for the Angels from 1989-1992 and for the 1995-96 seasons. He was an average pitcher for the most part, but he was inspiring nonetheless. Abbott was born with a birth defect that left him without a right hand. Somehow, he still earned his way into Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher. When he threw the ball, his glove was perched on the knob of his right fist. As soon as he released his pitch, he quickly moved the glove to his left hand. How inspiring is that? I’m thankful that Abbott was able to play for the Angels and once again prove that people can achieve their dreams even when disabled.

Garrett Anderson

He faced some criticism late in his career with the Angels, but I still regard Garrett Anderson as one of the best players to wear the team’s uniform. He was one of those people that always produced at the plate, even when his power dipped late in his career. Most importantly, he served as the team’s anchor in the middle of the lineup for most of his 15 years with the Angels. Most clubs never get that kind of consistency from one player.

Jered Weaver(notes)

The Angels haven’t had many true aces over the years, but I’m thankful the team finally has one in Jered Weaver. I’m even more impressed that he took less money to hopefully finish his career with the team when he signed a five-year, $85 million extension during the 2011 season. Granted, he’s not living in the poor house or anything, but it was refreshing to see a player stick with his hometown club instead looking for the most money he can get.

Source:

Baseball-Reference.com

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Read More: Alberto Callaspo (3B – ANA), Jason Bulger (P – ANA), Gil Velazquez (SS – ANA), Los Angeles Angels, Arizona Diamondbacks

Free agency is upon us in Major League Baseball, as the Los Angeles Angels had four players file for free agency last weekend. But while the main focus is on major league free agency, there are three times as many minor league free agents. Matt Eddy of Baseball America has the full list of 537 minor league free agents, which includes 14 Angels.

Pitcher Jason Bulger and infielder Gil Velazquez are the only two Angels minor league free agents to see time in Anaheim this season. Bulger, who turns 33 in December, came to the Angels in 2006 from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Alberto Callaspo, who is back in Anaheim now. Bulger has a 4.33 career ERA in 125 games pitched in relief.

Velazquez, 32, is a journeyman infielder who had three hits in six at-bats for the Angels in September. The Angels have 39 players on their 40-man roster.

For more on the Angels, head to Halos Heaven.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout and Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper, the top two prospects in Major League Baseball, will headline Arizona Fall League Rising Stars game Saturday night. The 5 p.m. PDT game from Surprise Stadium will be televised by MLB Network, and is the largest concentration of baseball prospects outside of the Futures Game, which is played during All-Star weekend.

Trout is one of three Angels on the East roster, along with infielder Jean Segura and pitcher David Carpenter. “It’s like a smaller version of the Futures Game,” Trout told Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com. “It’s a great honor to be a part of it. We’re going to go out there and do our thing. We’ll be out there competing. You want to go out there and showcase yourself, but you want to win for your team, too.”

In two stints with the Angels this season Trout, who turned 20 years old on August 7, hit .220/.281/.390 with five home runs in 40 games. He showed improvement in his second call up to the Halos, hitting .250/.318/.450 with four home runs and three stolen bases over his final 26 games of the season.

Pitcher Steven Ames is the only member of the Los Angeles Dodgers on the East roster.

For more Angels news and information, be sure to read Halos Heaven.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP)—Former major league catcher Scott Servais has agreed
to become an assistant general manager with the Los Angeles Angels.

The team said Friday that Servais agreed to a multiyear deal, and his duties
include scouting and player development. He will report to new general manager
Jerry Dipoto.

Servais had been senior director of player development with the Texas
Rangers since 2005. He was responsible for on-field development of the club’s
minor league players, along with instructing its major league catchers.

The 44-year-old former catcher played 14 years in the majors with Houston,
the Cubs and San Francisco before retiring in 2002.

Read More: Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Angels are beginning to intensify their search for a general manager, as they hope to have a new executive in place by next week. Damon Oppenheimer, the head of amateur scouting for the New York Yankees, is no longer a candidate for the Angels, reported Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated on Wednesday. But fellow Yankees’ executive Billy Eppler will return for a second interview with the Halos.

In addition, former Los Angeles Dodgers GM Dan Evans will interview this week with the Angels, per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. Evans was with the Dodgers from 2001 to 2004, and along with Logan White helped them build up their minor league system with a pair of productive drafts in 2002 and 2003 when the Dodgers selected and signed 15 future major league players.

White worked with fellow Angels GM candidate Kim Ng while with the Dodgers. Evans was let go in 2004 after Frank McCourt purchased the Dodgers and was replaced by Paul DePodesta. On his Google profile, Evans noted his strengths:

My unique perspective is a distinct advantage, as I am the only former General Manager of a Major League club who has also led a baseball representation firm. 

I am fully immersed and up to date in all aspects of the game: Major League, minor league, international, and amateur level baseball

DGiovanna also reported that the Angels are expected to ask permission to interview Texas Rangers assistant GM Thad Levine once the World Series is completed.

For more on the Angels and their GM search, head to Halos Heaven.