ANAHEIM — Taylor Ward was relieved to still have a locker in the Angels’ clubhouse on Friday.
“I definitely feel much more comfortable,” the outfielder said a day after the trade deadline, which passed without him being dealt. “Yesterday was pretty stressful. Leading up to yesterday was stressful. So happy to be staying. Like I said, I’m looking forward to continuing, going out there with these guys and pushing for the playoffs.”
Ward and closer Kenley Jansen were two of the Angels’ players who seemed most likely to be dealt. Both insisted in the days and weeks leading up to the deadline that they wanted to stay.
General Manager Perry Minasian said on Thursday that he decided not to trade anyone off the major league roster because the returns they were being offered weren’t enough to sacrifice the opportunity for the young core to play meaningful games in August and September.
The Angels are on the fringes of the race for the third American League wild card spot, but they’re close enough for the players to feel the importance of the games. In other years, the Angels have been so far out that they were simply playing out the string.
“I think we’re taking every game day by day,” interim manager Ray Montgomery said. “We’ve talked about it in spring training. We’ve talked about it the beginning of the season. Now we’re in August, which is kind of cool that we’re still talking about it. So my mentality to the guys and theirs back to me has always been, ‘Let’s just play today and let the outside noise be the outside noise.’”
Shortstop Zach Neto said he likes the core the Angels have built.
“It didn’t go our way at the start of the season, but we started kind of getting hot there, playing for each other, playing with each other, and it showed who we are as a team,” Neto said.
HAPPY TO BE HERE
Left-hander Andrew Chafin, who was acquired on Wednesday, spoke to reporters on his first day in uniform with his new team and he addressed the elephant in the room.
Last year when the Detroit Tigers traded Chafin to the Texas Rangers, he said: “At least it’s not California.”
Chafin seemed to be ready for the question on Friday.
“At least it’s not Texas,” he said with a smile. “Does that work?”
Chafin then elaborated that he has a farm in Ohio, so he doesn’t “usually fit in the general scene of California. But everybody I’ve been around so far has been great and hospitable and stuff. It’s exciting. I was able to go fishing yesterday on the off day, so I’m in a good place.”
Chafin, 35, had a 2.70 ERA in 26 games with the Washington Nationals. He said he’s been more successful at throwing strikes this season.
He also said he has a better feeling about this midseason trade than others in his career.
“I think it boils down to I just want to be in a good situation where I can prove my worth and hopefully get a job next year,” Chafin said.
NOTES
Mike Trout was out of the lineup on Friday because of an illness. A bug has been going around the clubhouse this week. …
Christian Moore (sprained left thumb) was scheduled for his third rehab game at Class-A Inland Empire on Friday night. Moore was set to play all nine innings at second base, followed by all nine innings at DH on Saturday. …
Infielder Oswald Peraza reported to the team a day after he was acquired from the New York Yankees. Montgomery said Peraza will fill a similar role as Kevin Newman, who was designated for assignment. Newman played third base when the Angels faced left-handed pitchers because starting third baseman Yoán Moncada still can’t swing from the right side. …
Right-hander Sam Bachman was optioned to clear a roster spot for Chafin. Bachman had a 5.02 ERA and 11 walks in 17 innings. Montgomery said he needs to work on being better against lefties, and establishing his best stuff more quickly when he comes into the game.
UP NEXT
White Sox (RHP Aaron Civale, 1-4, 4.10 ERA) at Angels (RHP Kyle Hendricks, 6-7, 4.73 ERA), Saturday, 7:07 p.m., FDSN West, 830 AM