Dodgers Lose Minor League Free Agent to Angels
Imanol Vargas had a decent five-year run in the Los Angeles Dodgers minor league system but when he became a minor league free agent at the end of the 2023 season, his agent’s phone didn’t ring.
He launched 22 home runs as a 25-year-old with the Double-A Tulsa Drillers last year, and his 114 wRC+ suggested Vargas would be a great addition to any major league franchise. Instead, he signed with the Milwaukee Milkmen of the independent American Association.
As the Milkmen were prepping for the start of their season in May, Vargas got the call he had been waiting for. He signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels and was assigned to Low-A Inland Empire 66ers. He debuted in Wednesday’s game against Fresno, hit a single, and drove in two runs in the 66ers’ 5-1 win.
Baseball America’s Matt Eddy highlighted Vargas among last year’s minor league free agents to watch. He wrote that “Vargas’ raw power is apparently in his 114 mph max exit velocity and extreme damage on contact. The issue has been making enough contact to take full advantage. Vargas doesn’t chase much out of the zone but can be beat in the zone with good stuff.”
The left-handed hitter appeared in 456 minor league games across four levels. The last time he played in the Low-A California League was for Rancho Cucamonga in 2021 when he hit 17 home runs in 72 games.
Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
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