Angels Cut 2 More Players as Spring Roster Dwindles

The Los Angeles Angels have made further cuts to their spring training roster, reducing it to 37 players.

On Monday, the team announced that right-handed pitcher Michael Petersen had been optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake, while catcher Juan Flores was reassigned to minor league camp.

Petersen’s final appearance in his bid for a spot on the big league roster came in a scoreless inning where he struck out two batters. Over 5.2 innings this spring, he allowed two earned runs and recorded seven strikeouts. Petersen was claimed off waivers by the Angels after the Toronto Blue Jays designated him for assignment in early February.

The 30-year-old began his career with the Milwaukee Brewers before moving to Cincinnati. He made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024 after signing a minor league contract with the team in January. He made 11 appearances with the Dodgers, posting a 6.43 ERA in 14 innings.

Petersen made history as the first UK-born player to play for the Dodgers at the MLB level. His performance in Triple-A last season, where he posted a 1.64 ERA and 10 saves in 35 appearances, suggests starting him in Triple-A could be a smart decision.

Flores, 19, was not expected to be in the big league picture this year but was kept around to continue working with catching instructor Jerry Narron. Over the past year, Flores made significant progress within the Angels’ prospect rankings, moving from No. 22 to No. 17 by midseason.

Flores impressed during spring training and had a solid showing at Single-A Inland Empire, earning a promotion to High-A Tri-City in June despite being just 18. While he has struggled since moving up, he remains younger than most of his competition.

During spring training, Flores played in 10 games and recorded one hit in 14 at-bats.