Aaron Nola solid for five in downing D-backs

Beck was released by the Giants on Monday after posting a 5.21 ERA in just 19 innings in the majors last season. Viewed as a potential fourth or fifth starter when he debuted with the Giants in 2023, he unfortunately developed an aneurysm in his arm that cost him much of 2024 and then struggled to establish himself upon returning. Even so, had a respectable 4.08 ERA in 176 2/3 innings as a major leaguer.

He considered playing winter ball after missing the season, but since he and his wife have a baby due in December, he’s going to stay home. Baldwin should have a decent chance of winning a spot on the White Sox next spring, but it wouldn’t initially come with the playing time he figured to get if not for the injury last season. The switch-hitting 26-year-old has thus far batted .232/.279/.382 with 13 homers and nine steals in 136 big-league games.

Lipcius, who majored in nuclear engineering at Tennessee, had alternatives, but he is going the coaching route as he wraps up his playing career at age 28. Lipcius played in 13 games for the Tigers in 2023, hitting .286 with a homer. He got off to an excellent start with the Dodgers’ Triple-A club in 2024 and went on to hit 25 homers, but he never got another chance in the majors.

Pilfering from the Guardians’ pitching development program seems like a smart way to go, and the 44-year-old Torres had been Cleveland’s assistant coach prior to today. Long before that, he was a first-round pick by the Angels in 2000, though he never reached the majors before retiring at age 30.

Players become eligible for minor league free agency after six seasons if they have not been added to a 40-man roster, so these five players, plus seven more, are no longer a part of the Royals organization. Alex Lange appeared in 59 games for the Royals in 2026, posting a 6.75 ERA, but he has a 4.45 ERA in 244 2/4 MLB innings. Alexander has a career 3.36 ERA in 349 big-league appearances over 11 seasons and Moore has a career 4.39 ERA in 483 big-league appearances. Toro hit .270/.351/.478 with 19 home runs in 123 games for Triple-A Omaha, and Velasquez has a 4.86 ERA in 193 career MLB appearances.

Nimmala is the Angels’ top prospect and the 87th-ranked prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. He came over to the team from the Blue Jays at the trade deadline as part of a trade for Jose Soriano. The 21-year-old is fourth in the AFL in hits and is hitting .301/.446/.507 in 18 games with two triples, two home runs, 13 RBI, four steals, and a 17/21 K/BB ratio.

Kent was designated for assignment last week and went unclaimed on waivers. He will now be a free agent, able to sign with any team.

Bell has served in those roles for the last two seasons, but he said he decided to step away to “reassess where I can make the greatest impact, on and off the field.”

Mozeliak said he’s expecting Major League Baseball owners to vote on the transfer from Arte Moreno to Kroenke Sports & Entertainment sometime during the MLB owners meeting in New York the week of November 16th. KSE announced a deal to purchase the Angels in September, and there was a belief the transition would happen at the beginning of 2027. That process is being sped up, which is good for the Angels because the team has decided to hold off on hiring a general manager and a manager until ownership changes hands. This means the Angels would be able to potentially rush and hire somebody before the lockout likely begins on December 1st.

Pujols is currently in the fourth year of a 10-year contract he signed to be a consultant for the Angels; however, the 11-time All-Star and three-time MVP has made it clear since his retirement in 2022 that he wants to manage. Pujols managed Team Dominican Republic to a third-place finish during this year’s World Baseball Classic and also has managerial experience in Dominican winter ball. He interviewed for the San Diego Padres and Angels managerial openings last winter, and expressed an interest in this Mets job this June when Carlos Mendoza was let go. Pujols will be interviewed in Houston by a former Cardinals teammate after Randy Flores was hired as the team’s general manager this week. Texas Rangers bench coach Luis Urueta will also interview for the job this weekend.