With Opening Day only two days away, all 30 MLB teams are in the process of putting the final touches on their rosters. Some young players will fulfill their dream of playing in the majors, while others will head back to the minors to prepare for their potential call-up.
Meanwhile, some veterans will try to figure out their next steps heading into the 2025 regular season. Former Philadelphia Phillies top prospect and outfielder Mickey Moniak fits into this category.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Los Angeles Angels are releasing Moniak days before the first pitch on Opening Day. Passan adds that the Angels owe the veteran outfielder $483,970.97 as the CBA stipulates a player would receive 45 days of payout of the 186-day schedule.
A clarification on what Moniak would be owed when released: Because it’s so close to Opening Day, the collective-bargaining agreement stipulates a player would receive 45 days of pay out of the 186-day schedule — $483,970.97, to be precise, in Moniak’s case. https://t.co/Anlv4mXrVh
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 25, 2025
Moniak signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Angels this winter in arbitration. The former Phillies top prospect has struggled to find his footing in the majors. Last season with the Angels, the 26-year-old outfielder slashed .219/.266/.380 with 14 home runs and 49 RBI (124 games).
The former No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 MLB June Amateur Draft looked like he turned the corner in 2023 with the Angels. Moniak slashed .280/.307/.495 with 14 home runs and 45 RBI (85 games).
Moniak made his MLB debut with the Phillies on Sept. 16, 2020, and appeared in 47 games with the big league club between 2020 and 2022. Over that time, Moniak slashed a mediocre .129/.214/.172 with a home run and five RBI.
The Phillies eventually parted ways with the former first-overall pick, moving Moniak at the trade deadline during the 2022 season to the Angels for veteran starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard.
Nonetheless, we’ll see if Moniak can find another major league opportunity before Opening Day or if he has to sign a minor league deal.