Free-agent catcher Chad Wallach has signed a minor-league deal with the Los Angeles Angels that includes an invite to big-league spring training. The 31-year-old saw the most playing time of his career with the Halos last season due to the long-term shoulder injury suffered by catcher Logan O'Hoppe. Wallach struggled at the plate, however, hitting just .197 with seven home runs and a .635 OPS across a career-high 65 appearances and 172 trips to the plate. He has seen big-league action each season since 2017 but has largely scuffled at the dish as he is a career .198 hitter with 11 HR and a .591 OPS across 443 plate appearances. The club has also signed free-agent backstop Francisco Mejia this offseason and has O'Hoppe and Matt Thaiss leading the way on the catching depth chart.
Los Angeles Angels catcher Chad Wallach (neck) was placed on the seven-day injured list Tuesday with a concussion, according to Jeff Fletcher of the SoCal News Group. The 31-year-old was dealing with a stiff neck on Sunday, but the injury was classified as a concussion. Wallach is batting .267 with two homers across 10 games this season. He's been backing up Matt Thaiss ever since fellow backstop Logan O'Hoppe went down with an ailment. This news doesn't affect many fantasy leagues, and fantasy managers should assume catcher Chris Okey will become the new backup in L.A.
The Los Angeles Angels re-signed catcher Chad Wallach to a minor-league deal on Wednesday. Wallach entered free agency when he refused an outright assignment to Triple-A Salt Lake, but he will return to the Angels organization next year. The 31-year-old backstop played in just 12 games for the Halos in 2022, going 5-for-35 (.143) with a homer, four RBI and three runs scored. In six big-league seasons with the Angels, Cincinnati Reds and Miami Marlins, Wallach has hit just .198/.265/.296 with four home runs, 24 RBI and 17 runs scored in 271 plate appearances over 90 games played. He'll be looking to win a spot on the major-league roster out of spring training in 2023.
Catcher Chad Wallach was claimed off waivers from the Miami Marlins by the Los Angeles Dodgers. With Keibert Ruiz traded to the Nationals as part of the Max Scherzer-Trea Turner deal, the Dodgers were in need of some catching depth for their Triple-A club. Wallach was designated for assignment by the Marlins last week and is a career .207/.271/.303 hitter at the big league level. He'll slot in behind Will Smith and Austin Barnes on the Dodgers depth chart.
Chad Wallach Remains Starting Catcher For Game 2 Friday
Miami Marlins catcher Chad Wallach will start behind the plate for the second consecutive postseason game Friday versus the Cubs and right-hander Yu Darvish. Wallach started just 13 games during the regular season, but seems to have supplanted Jorge Alfaro as the clubs everyday catcher at this stage. Wallach will have an extremely difficult matchup in Game 2 against Darvish, severely capping his DFS intrigue. Keep an eye on whom the Marlins will tab as their catcher for either Game 3 on Saturday or Game 1 of the NLDS next Tuesday to get an indication of the timeshare between Wallach and Alfaro.
Chad Wallach Starts Game 1 Wednesday, Jorge Alfaro Sits
Miami Marlins catcher Chad Wallach will be behind the dish to catch right-handed pitcher Sandy Alcantara for Game 1 of the wild-card series versus the Cubs. Wallach appeared in 15 games during the regular season and produced a .640 OPS, with manager Don Mattingly opting for his defensive abilities over those of Jorge Alfaro, whose bat ended 2020 on a significant slide. Wallach will be one of the lowest-priced bats among starting nines on the slate Wednesday, giving him punt play appeal for fantasy managers needing to save up for other players to roster. Alfaro will likely return behind the plate for Game 2 on Thursday.
The Miami Marlins placed catcher Chad Wallach (concussion) on the 10-day injured list with a concussion on Friday and called up catcher Bryan Holaday from the minors in a corresponding move. Outfielder Isaac Galloway was also designated for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. Holaday will now serve as the backup to Jorge Alfaro in Miami. There's nothing to see here from a fantasy perspective.
