The Los Angeles Angels designated veteran pitcher Johnny Cueto for assignment and put reliever Carson Fulmer on the 15-day injured list Friday, clearing roster spots for pitching prospects Caden Dana and Samuel Aldegheri.
Cueto, 38, signed a minor league contract with the Angels in July after opting out of a deal with the Rangers. He returned to the majors Aug. 21 and posted a quality start — three runs in 6⅓ innings — against the Royals, one of his former teams. He then gave up six runs and six hits, including three home runs, in five-plus innings Tuesday against the Tigers.
Cueto has a career 144-113 record with a 3.52 ERA in parts of 17 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds (2008-15), Royals (2015), San Francisco Giants (2016-21), Chicago White Sox (2022), Miami Marlins (2023) and Angels.
Fulmer’s trip to the IL, retroactive to Tuesday, is for elbow inflammation, and MLB.com reported the 30-year-old will have an MRI. He is 0-5 with a 4.15 ERA in 32 appearances (eight starts) for Los Angeles, with a 1.31 WHIP and 79 strikeouts in 80⅓ innings.
Dana, 20, is listed as the top prospect in the Angels’ organization, according to MLB Pipeline. The right-handed pitcher was selected by the team in the 11th round of the 2022 draft out of a New Jersey prep school. He has a 9-7 record and 2.52 ERA in 23 starts at Double-A Rocket City.
Aldegheri, 22, was scheduled to make his major league debut Friday against the visiting Seattle Mariners, becoming the first pitcher born and raised in Italy to play in the majors.
Aldegheri is the Angels’ No. 8 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. He has a 6-9 record and 3.59 ERA in 19 games (all starts) across two levels this season. His last four starts came at Double-A Rocket City after he was acquired in a July 27 trade that sent reliever Carlos Estevez to the Phillies.