Angels avoid arbitration with Sandoval, Rengifo, Canning, Quijada

ANAHEIM -- The Angels avoided arbitration with left-hander Patrick Sandoval, infielder Luis Rengifo, right-hander Griffin Canning and reliever José Quijada by agreeing to terms on contracts with them for the 2024 season ahead of Thursday’s deadline to exchange salary figures.

The Angels did not agree to terms with outfielder Taylor Ward and lefty José Suarez before Thursday's deadline and are expected to go to an arbitration trial with both. Ward filed for $4.8 million and the Angels filed for $4.3 million, while Suarez filed for $1.35 million and the Angels countered with $925,000, per MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

All 30 clubs had until 10 a.m. PT to reach agreements with their arbitration-eligible players. Last year the Angels went to arbitration with Rengifo, Hunter Renfroe and Gio Urshela. They won their case against Urshela, but Rengifo and Renfroe won theirs.

Sandoval, 27, will earn $5.025 million in his second year of arbitration after making $2.75 million last year. It was his second year of arbitration; he remains under club control through 2026 because he qualified for Super Two status last year. Sandoval posted a 4.11 ERA with 128 strikeouts in 144 2/3 innings in 2023 and is looking to bounce back this year, as he had a 2.91 ERA in 148 2/3 innings in 2022.

Rengifo’s salary is nearly doubled, as he’ll make $4.4 million after earning $2.3 million in ’23. It was also his second year of arbitration, but he’ll be a free agent after the 2025 season. Rengifo, 26, batted .264/.339/.444 with 16 homers, 15 doubles and 51 RBIs in 126 games before he sustained a torn biceps in a freak accident in the on-deck circle on Sept. 7. He's expected to be ready for Spring Training and will be counted on as a key utility player.

Canning got a big jump in salary, as he was able to get through the 2023 season without any issues after missing the 2022 season with a back injury. He made $850,000 last season but will earn $2.6 million in ’24. The 27-year-old posted a 4.32 ERA with 139 strikeouts in 127 innings and gives the Angels much-needed rotation depth. Like Rengifo, it was his second time eligible, and he will be a free agent after ’25.

Quijada was an interesting case because he only pitched nine innings before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery. He was eligible for the first time and will earn $840,000 this year. He’s expected to be ready close to the start of the regular season and could be a factor in the bullpen, as he was the club’s co-closer before tearing his UCL. The 28-year-old is under club control through '26.

Ward is in a similar situation to Sandoval, as he also made $2.75 million last year, qualified for Super Two status and is under team control through ’26. The 30-year-old hit .253/.335/.421 with 14 homers, 18 doubles and 47 RBIs before he was hit in the face by a pitch from Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah on July 29. He sustained facial fractures and missed the rest of the season but is expected to be fully healthy for Spring Training.

Suarez, 26, is coming off a tough year that saw him post an 8.29 ERA in 33 2/3 innings while also missing several months with a shoulder injury. It’s his second year of arbitration; he made $750,000 last season. He’s out of Minor League options and could be used in a swing role this season.