Angels' latest additions share SoCal roots

This story was excerpted from Rhett Bollinger's Angels Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

ANAHEIM -- The Angels have been the most active team in free agency early this offseason, signing right-hander Kyle Hendricks, catcher Travis d'Arnaud and infielder Kevin Newman to bolster their depth.

All three players have something in common, as they grew up in Southern California and will be enjoying a homecoming. Hendricks was born in Newport Beach and attended Capistrano Valley High School in Mission Viejo, 25 miles southeast of Angel Stadium. d’Arnaud was born in Long Beach and prepped at Lakewood High School, 15 miles west of the ballpark. And Newman was born in Poway and attended Poway High School, just north of San Diego and 75 miles southeast of Anaheim.

Angels general manager Perry Minasian said it’s no coincidence, as he’s learned during his time as GM to go after players in free agency who embrace the West Coast. He said he struck out on free agents early in his tenure, only to learn the team never really had a chance because of their geographic preferences.

“Maybe my first year, my first two years in this job, I was chasing guys where there was very little chance of them coming west,” Minasian said. “So I've made that adjustment over the last couple years.”

Of the top free agents available, several are from the area, including starting pitchers Max Fried, Jack Flaherty and Shane Bieber. Corbin Burnes is from Bakersfield, and Michael Lorenzen is from Fullerton and previously pitched for the Angels. The team still isn’t likely to make a huge splash in free agency, but Minasian is looking for another starting pitcher and believes his club has a lot to offer.

“This is a great place to be,” Minasian said. “There's a lot of players that would love to be here. And that says a lot about the area in Southern California and how beautiful it is. Says a lot about our fan base. And opposing players love playing here. It says a lot about just the organization as a whole.”

Hendricks and d’Arnaud both said returning closer to home was a factor in their decision, while Minasian also indicated that Newman had a preference for playing out west again after a solid season with the D-backs. Newman, who was signed to a one-year deal worth $2.5 million with an option for 2026, also played collegiately at the University of Arizona before being drafted as a first-rounder by the Pirates in '15.

“He wanted to be here,” Minasian said. “He was drawn to Southern California. Kevin was somebody that was really wanting to be here, and he did have other options but chose us, and we're excited about that.”

For Hendricks, it’ll be his first time playing at home in the Pacific Time Zone in the Majors, as he previously played his entire 11-year career with the Cubs after starring at Dartmouth College. Hendricks, who signed a one-year deal worth $2.5 million, grew up in Orange County but now lives in the Phoenix area and said he’s excited for his family, especially staying local for Spring Training in Tempe, Ariz.

“There were just so many positives that drew me back,” Hendricks said. “It’s cool to be able to come back to my hometown. I grew up about 30 minutes from Angel Stadium and being in Arizona, having Spring Training here with the Angels, also means a lot. There are so many things from top to bottom, the people, I can talk about, but just there were so many positives when you went down the list.”

d’Arnaud, who inked a two-year, $12 million pact to join the Angels, still lives in the area and said his brother, sister, parents and in-laws also live nearby. He's played most of his career in the Eastern Time Zone, playing seven seasons with the Mets, five with the Braves, one with the Rays and just one game with the local Dodgers in '19. d’Arnaud, who has three young children with his wife, Britney, was originally a first-round pick of the Phillies in 2007.

“For me, family is the most important thing,” d’Arnaud said. “Not having to pull the kids out of school, and possibly not seeing them until August, was a huge decision for me and one of the reasons I wanted to stay local. And then also for them to be able to grow up [closer to family]. That was a huge factor for me. And I’ve seen the Angels win a world championship in 2002 and know how much the Angels have an impact on the culture of baseball, especially in Orange County.”