Angels avoid arbitration with 4 players; 2 still unsigned

The Angels on Thursday agreed to one-year deals with pitchers Griffin Canning, Patrick Sandoval and José Quijada and infielder Luis Rengifo, avoiding arbitration.

They have not yet agreed to terms with their two other arbitration-eligible players, outfielder Taylor Ward and left-hander José Suarez.

Thursday was the deadline for teams to reach agreements with arbitration-eligible players before exchanging figures for hearings to be held next month. Although negotiations can continue up until the start of the hearing, most teams have recently adopted a “file and trial” policy that ends negotiations past the point that figures are exchanged.

Last year the Angels went to three arbitration hearings, losing against Hunter Renfroe and Rengifo and winning against Urshela. Prior to last year, the Angels went to only one hearing (in 2021, against Brian Goodwin) since 2011.

Sandoval agreed to a deal for $5.025 million, up from $2.75 million. Rengifo will make $4.4 million, up from $2.3 million. Canning will make $2.6 million, a raise from $850,000. Quijada will make $840,000 in his first season being eligible for arbitration. Quijada underwent Tommy John surgery last year, so he’ll miss at least a few months of the 2024 season.

Ward made $2.75 million last year in his first year being eligible for arbitration. Suarez is in his first year being eligible for arbitration this season.