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TribeTown · 07-17-2026, 10:15 AM

Angels Move Quickly After John Means Injury, Add Bullpen Help and Power Bat in Pair of Trades

Veteran left-hander John Means, making his second start as an opener and third appearance overall, exited after facing just one batter in the second inning with arm discomfort. Subsequent testing revealed bone chips in his elbow, and the club placed him on the injured list.

General manager Andy Cardinal responded aggressively. The Angels completed two trades that addressed both their immediate bullpen needs and their long-term organizational depth.

Mlodzinski arrives from Pittsburgh
The first move sent minor league right-hander Talon Haley to the Pirates in exchange for right-handed reliever Carmen Mlodzinski. The Angels had been working on a trade for Mlodzinski for a couple of weeks, but the injury to Means accelerated the timeline.

Mlodzinski immediately joins the major league roster, taking Means' spot. The 26-year-old has spent this season at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he posted a 2-2 record with two saves and a sparkling 1.55 ERA in 24 appearances.

Originally selected by Pittsburgh in the first round of the 2020 draft out of the University of South Carolina, Mlodzinski has already accumulated major league experience as both a reliever and multi-inning pitcher. The Angels believe his versatility is one of his biggest assets.

Scouting Report: Carmen Mlodzinski
Mlodzinski attacks hitters with a heavy mid-to-upper-90s sinker that produces a high volume of ground balls. He complements it with a sharp slider that has become his primary swing-and-miss pitch while also mixing an occasional cutter and changeup. Rather than overpowering hitters with strikeouts alone, he succeeds by limiting hard contact, throwing strikes, and generating weak contact early in counts.

His ability to pitch multiple innings makes him particularly valuable for an Angels bullpen that has frequently been overworked because of starters averaging five to six innings per outing.

Second deal brings three players from Cleveland
The more intriguing transaction came shortly afterward. The Angels traded utility player Jahmai Jones and pitching prospect Barrett Kent to Cleveland in exchange for outfielder/designated hitter Jhonkensy Noel, right-handed reliever Nic Enright, and left-handed reliever Sam Hentges. Hentges immediately joins the major league bullpen, replacing Kolby Allard, who was designated for assignment. Noel also joins the active roster but is widely expected to head to Triple-A once Mike Trout returns from the injured list.

Jhonkensy Noel: Tremendous power, enormous upside
Few players possess more raw power than Noel. Nicknamed "Big Christmas," the 6-foot-3 slugger is capable of hitting baseballs as far as almost anyone in professional baseball. His raw power grades among the best in the minors, and he has consistently produced impressive home run totals.

The question has has always been contact. Noel's aggressive approach leads to strikeouts, and major league pitchers have exploited his tendency to chase pitches outside the strike zone. The Angels believe there is enough offensive upside to justify continuing that development. If he makes enough contact, he has the potential to become a middle-of-the-order run producer.

Nic Enright: An inspiring journey
Enright's path to the Angels is about much more than baseball. After overcoming significant health challenges during his professional career, including a battle with Hodgkin lymphoma, Enright has returned to the mound and continued pursuing his dream of reaching the major leagues. The right-hander features a low-to-mid-90s fastball, quality slider, and above-average command. Rather than relying on overwhelming velocity, he succeeds by locating pitches, changing speeds, and attacking hitters aggressively. The Angels view him as valuable organizational bullpen depth who could contribute later this season.

Sam Hentges: Left-handed weapon returns healthy
Hentges is the player most likely to make an immediate impact. The 6-foot-6 left-hander has previously established himself as one of Cleveland's trusted bullpen arms before injuries interrupted his career. When healthy, Hentges attacks hitters with a mid-90s fastball delivered from a difficult angle, complemented by a sweeping slider that is particularly effective against left-handed hitters. His size and release point create uncomfortable at-bats for hitters from both sides of the plate. For an Angels bullpen searching for dependable left-handed options, Hentges represents a significant addition.

Saying goodbye to Jahmai Jones
The trade also marks the end of Jahmai Jones' second stint with the Angels. Jones filled his role exactly as the organization hoped, providing defensive versatility, athleticism, and quality at-bats whenever called upon. His professionalism made him a respected presence in the clubhouse, even if regular playing time proved difficult to find. Ultimately, his departure reflects the Angels' increasing commitment to their younger outfield core, led by Chandler Simpson, Nelson Rada, and George Valera.

The Bottom Line
Mlodzinski and Hentges immediately deepen a relief corps that has cost the club several games this season, while Noel provides another high-upside bat for an organization continuing to build around young, controllable talent.

07-17-2026, 10:15 AM	#35
TribeTown All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2022 Location: Garrettsville, Ohio Posts: 700	Angels Move Quickly After John Means Injury, Add Bullpen Help and Power Bat in Pair of Trades Veteran left-hander John Means, making his second start as an opener and third appearance overall, exited after facing just one batter in the second inning with arm discomfort. Subsequent testing revealed bone chips in his elbow, and the club placed him on the injured list. General manager Andy Cardinal responded aggressively. The Angels completed two trades that addressed both their immediate bullpen needs and their long-term organizational depth. Mlodzinski arrives from Pittsburgh The first move sent minor league right-hander Talon Haley to the Pirates in exchange for right-handed reliever Carmen Mlodzinski. The Angels had been working on a trade for Mlodzinski for a couple of weeks, but the injury to Means accelerated the timeline. Mlodzinski immediately joins the major league roster, taking Means' spot. The 26-year-old has spent this season at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he posted a 2-2 record with two saves and a sparkling 1.55 ERA in 24 appearances. Originally selected by Pittsburgh in the first round of the 2020 draft out of the University of South Carolina, Mlodzinski has already accumulated major league experience as both a reliever and multi-inning pitcher. The Angels believe his versatility is one of his biggest assets. Scouting Report: Carmen Mlodzinski Mlodzinski attacks hitters with a heavy mid-to-upper-90s sinker that produces a high volume of ground balls. He complements it with a sharp slider that has become his primary swing-and-miss pitch while also mixing an occasional cutter and changeup. Rather than overpowering hitters with strikeouts alone, he succeeds by limiting hard contact, throwing strikes, and generating weak contact early in counts. His ability to pitch multiple innings makes him particularly valuable for an Angels bullpen that has frequently been overworked because of starters averaging five to six innings per outing. Second deal brings three players from Cleveland The more intriguing transaction came shortly afterward. The Angels traded utility player Jahmai Jones and pitching prospect Barrett Kent to Cleveland in exchange for outfielder/designated hitter Jhonkensy Noel, right-handed reliever Nic Enright, and left-handed reliever Sam Hentges. Hentges immediately joins the major league bullpen, replacing Kolby Allard, who was designated for assignment. Noel also joins the active roster but is widely expected to head to Triple-A once Mike Trout returns from the injured list. Jhonkensy Noel: Tremendous power, enormous upside Few players possess more raw power than Noel. Nicknamed "Big Christmas," the 6-foot-3 slugger is capable of hitting baseballs as far as almost anyone in professional baseball. His raw power grades among the best in the minors, and he has consistently produced impressive home run totals. The question has has always been contact. Noel's aggressive approach leads to strikeouts, and major league pitchers have exploited his tendency to chase pitches outside the strike zone. The Angels believe there is enough offensive upside to justify continuing that development. If he makes enough contact, he has the potential to become a middle-of-the-order run producer. Nic Enright: An inspiring journey Enright's path to the Angels is about much more than baseball. After overcoming significant health challenges during his professional career, including a battle with Hodgkin lymphoma, Enright has returned to the mound and continued pursuing his dream of reaching the major leagues. The right-hander features a low-to-mid-90s fastball, quality slider, and above-average command. Rather than relying on overwhelming velocity, he succeeds by locating pitches, changing speeds, and attacking hitters aggressively. The Angels view him as valuable organizational bullpen depth who could contribute later this season. Sam Hentges: Left-handed weapon returns healthy Hentges is the player most likely to make an immediate impact. The 6-foot-6 left-hander has previously established himself as one of Cleveland's trusted bullpen arms before injuries interrupted his career. When healthy, Hentges attacks hitters with a mid-90s fastball delivered from a difficult angle, complemented by a sweeping slider that is particularly effective against left-handed hitters. His size and release point create uncomfortable at-bats for hitters from both sides of the plate. For an Angels bullpen searching for dependable left-handed options, Hentges represents a significant addition. Saying goodbye to Jahmai Jones The trade also marks the end of Jahmai Jones' second stint with the Angels. Jones filled his role exactly as the organization hoped, providing defensive versatility, athleticism, and quality at-bats whenever called upon. His professionalism made him a respected presence in the clubhouse, even if regular playing time proved difficult to find. Ultimately, his departure reflects the Angels' increasing commitment to their younger outfield core, led by Chandler Simpson, Nelson Rada, and George Valera. The Bottom Line Mlodzinski and Hentges immediately deepen a relief corps that has cost the club several games this season, while Noel provides another high-upside bat for an organization continuing to build around young, controllable talent.