The Los Angeles Angels continue making moves to build depth around their core stars as they chase their first playoff appearance since 2014. While bench players like Kevin Newman, Gustavo Campero, and Lamonte Wade Jr. currently rotate in to support the starting lineup, several other players have come and gone — including Nicky Lopez and J.D. Davis, who are no longer part of the organization.
According to reports, Lopez has opted out of his minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, while Davis was released from Triple-A Salt Lake. Both had brief stints with the Angels this season.
Lopez, signed for his strong defensive skills, joined the Angels on a Major League deal and filled a bench role after the unexpected release of Mickey Moniak. He played in just five games — one as a starter and one as a position player turned pitcher during a blowout loss — and went hitless in six at-bats. His year has been full of movement: after starting the spring with the Cubs, he joined the Angels, returned briefly to Chicago, and later signed with Arizona, though he never appeared in the majors for the D-backs.
Davis was brought in as a depth option at the corners and signed a minor league deal. While he appeared in five games for the Angels and had just one hit in nine at-bats, he found more success at Triple-A, posting a strong .294/.371/.524 slash line in 50 games for Salt Lake.
In related news, pitcher Buck Farmer, who was also released by the Angels after a difficult stretch in Salt Lake (9.00 ERA in 12 innings), has signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds — a team he performed well for from 2022 to 2024, including a 3.04 ERA in 61 games last season. He’s currently at the Reds’ spring training facility in Arizona and is expected to report to Triple-A Louisville soon. With Cincinnati dealing with multiple pitching injuries, Farmer may have a shot to return to the majors if he regains form.
