Notes: Halos add relievers Cishek, Watson

The Angels added two veteran relievers three days before Opening Day, signing right-hander Steve Cishek and left-hander Tony Watson to one-year deals each worth $1 million on Monday. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed reliever Luke Bard was placed on the 60-day disabled list with a right hip injury.

Cishek, 34, has a career 2.78 ERA in 11 seasons, including a 5.40 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 20 innings with the White Sox in 2020. He was released by the Astros on Thursday after being informed he wasn't going to make the team. Cishek had a 3.52 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings in seven Spring Training appearances. He also pitched under Angels manager Joe Maddon with the Cubs from 2018-19.

Watson, 35, has a career 2.80 ERA in 10 seasons and had a 2.50 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 18 innings with the Giants last year. He opted out of his Minor League deal with the Phillies on Friday after being told he wasn't going to make the club. He allowed four runs in five innings in Grapefruit League play.

"It's two guys we think are going to help our bullpen and are veteran arms with very successful careers and [who] have pitched in postseasons," Angels general manager Perry Minasian said. “And as far as clubhouse-wise, they fit what we are trying to do and are excellent humans. I've gotten multiple texts from people about how not only myself, but the entire crew is going to like having these two individuals on the team."

The two veterans are expected to be on the club’s Opening Day roster, joining closer Raisel Iglesias, lefty Alex Claudio and right-handers Mike Mayers and Junior Guerra. Additionally, right-hander Chris Rodriguez, the club’s No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will make the club.

Fellow right-hander Aaron Slegers is still in the mix to make the roster after dealing with back spasms and is competing with Jaime Barria and Patrick Sandoval for a long relief role. The club also acquired reliever James Hoyt in a trade with the Marlins for cash on Monday and he could also make the roster, but he does have a year of Minor League options remaining.

Hoyt, 24, posted a 1.23 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings with the Marlins last season. He has a career 3.71 ERA with 124 strikeouts in 94 2/3 innings over a five-year career with the Astros, Indians and Marlins. He began throwing his slider more last year to great success.

"He's a guy I saw a lot last year for Miami," Minasian said. "He's kind of reinvented himself. It's an amazing story from a career standpoint. His slider is a weapon. He pitched in the postseason for Miami and was a big part of their bullpen down the stretch. We feel like he can help us but he does have an option. We all know how important depth will be this season."

Wise settling in
Interim pitching coach Matt Wise has made a seamless transition to his new role after previously serving as the club’s bullpen coach in 2020 and taking on a variety of coaching roles for the organization in the Minor Leagues from 2012-19.

Wise, 45, was promoted to pitching coach in February after Mickey Callaway was suspended on Feb. 2 for inappropriate and lewd behavior toward women in the sports media industry. Major League Baseball's investigation remains ongoing and isn't expected to be resolved by Opening Day, according to a report in The Athletic on Monday.

But Wise has handled his new role well and said it’s part of a collaborative effort that includes new bullpen coach Dom Chiti, Double-A pitching coach Buddy Carlyle, assistant general manager Alex Tamin and longtime coach Marcel Lachemann.

“It’s been a smooth transition,” Wise said. “We're always talking shop, talking ball. It's not a one-man show. All the way to Alex Tamin, who produces a lot of our analytical information and game-planning, we sit around and talk about these guys more than these guys probably even think about themselves. It's been a great environment where it feels like it's not just one guy in charge."

Wise, who pitched in the Majors from 2000-08 with the Angels, Brewers and Mets, also believes it’s an advantage that he’s been with the organization for nearly a decade. He’s aware of what kind of information each pitcher is seeking and believes he’s already established the necessary bonds with new additions such as Alex Cobb, José Quintana, Iglesias and Claudio.

"There's as much information as you want, but it all comes down to use [and how you're] giving [it] to these guys in a fashion where they can actually absorb it," Wise said. "If it's too much information for some, we have to learn when to back off. But some guys want to know everything and anything. The one thing that's made it easier is just knowing the guys. I have relationships with a pretty big chunk of them."

Maddon, who hired Wise as his bullpen coach in 2020, has been impressed by what Wise has brought now that he’s leading the charge as pitching coach.

“He’s very calm and well thought out,” Maddon said. “He’s there for everybody. He has a low ego but high self-esteem. He needed opportunity and it came around his way this time but he would’ve been ready regardless.”

Tidbits
? The Angels had an open spot on their 40-man roster for Hoyt but will need to create two more spots to make room for infielder Jose Rojas and outfielder Juan Lagares. Rojas and Lagares were both non-roster invitees to Spring Training.

? The Halos have not yet determined the members of their five-man taxi squad to open the season, as Maddon said they are still sorting out their final roster. He did said he expects it to be made up of veteran players. Third catcher Anthony Bemboom is expected to be part of that taxi squad.