Trey

Mancini

Mancini heads out to test the free agent waters instead of accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Salt Lake from the Angels. The 34-year-old journeyman was cut loose last week after going 4-for-13 with four RBI across five games with the Halos. It was his first stint back in the majors since 2023.

Mancini’s comeback was a feel-good story, and the 34-year-old was 4-for-13 with four RBI in his five games for the Angels, but that wasn’t enough to keep his spot on the team. He could return to the organization if he clears waivers.

Schanuel receives some additional time off to rest and recover after making an early exit from Tuesday’s game with left calf tightness following a hit-by-pitch. The 24-year-old figures to be ready for Friday’s series opener against the Rays. It’ll be veteran Trey Mancini drawing another start at first base in his absence.

Pretty cool. The 34-year-old Mancini was making his first appearance since July 31, 2023. His last three-hit game came for the Cubs against the Dodgers on Apr. 21 of that season. He doubled and singled off Don Drysdale and knocked in Ernie Banks twice.

Trey Mancini takes over at the cold corner in his first big-league appearance since 2023. Schanuel is playing through ankle tendinitis that put him on the injured list back in late May. The expectation is that he’ll be able to manage the situation and avoid a return trip to the injured list, but he’ll probably need some additional time off this week.

Mancini hasn’t appeared in the big leagues since the 2023 campaign when he got into 79 games for the Cubs. The 34-year-old figures to see action at first base and DH, with Vaughn Grissom (oblique) on the injured list and Nolan Schanuel dealing with a lingering ankle issue, after batting .273/.377/.464 with six homers in 224 plate appearances over 52 games at the Triple-A level this season.

Klassen had some strong moments this spring while allowing five runs on nine hits in 11 2/3 innings. He struck out 10 and walked five and showed some of the upside that made him such an intriguing prospect with the Phillies. His first full season in Los Angeles was not great, pitching to a 5.22 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and 134/47 K/BB ratio in 108 2/3 innings spent mostly in Double-A. He will look to get back on track this season and potentially push for a mid-season call-up. Trey Mancini seemed like a good bet to win a bench job, but he hit just 3-for-30 this spring and may have to find a chance somewhere else.

Mancini was in the Diamondbacks organization last season and hit .308/.373/.522 with 16 homers in 335 plate appearances over 75 games. When the Diamondbacks didn’t give him any MLB at-bats, he opted out of his contract on July 1st. Production like that could net him some opportunities with the Angels, but the 33-year-old has not had an MLB at-bat since hitting .234/.299/.336 with four home runs in 79 games for the Cubs in 2023.

Mancini will head out to the open market and attempt to latch on elsewhere after putting up some astronomical numbers this season at Triple-A Reno in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, hitting .308/.373/.522 with 16 homers in 335 plate appearances over 75 games. The 33-year-old hasn’t appeared in the big leagues since the 2023 campaign, but there might be a team out there willing to roll the dice.

It wasn’t long ago that McGough was a favorite for saves in Arizona, but not even two years later, he pitched to an 11.57 ERA in spring training and will not make the team. Mancini is the tougher cut here since the veteran slashed .440/.481/.640 in 27 spring plate appearances with one home run. As a non-roster invitee, other teams will have a chance to offer him a spot on their roster or Mancini will decide whether to take a minor league assignment with the Diamondbacks organization.