Tayron Guerrero of the Cincinnati Reds poses for a portrait during photo day at Goodyear Ballpark on February 21, 2023 in Goodyear, Arizona. The Colombian righty signed with the Los Angeles Angels for 2024. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
By Conor Liguori
World Baseball Network
Naranjeros de Hermosillo pitcher Tayron Guerrero has signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels, Francys Romero of Beisbolfr.com reported.
Guerrero, 32, has become a journeyman in professional baseball since he last appeared in Major League Baseball with the Miami Marlins in 2019, making stops in the Dominican Republic, Japan, and Mexico.
He spent the 2023 minor league baseball season with the Louisville Bats, the Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. Guerrero, a native of Colombia, did not get called up to the Major Leagues due to his poor 0-4 record with an 11.51 ERA in 22.2 innings.
The right-handed pitcher fared much better this summer with the Diablos Rojos del México in Liga Mexicana de Béisbol and this winter for the Naranjeros de Hermosillo in Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico. Guerrero posted a 1.17 ERA in seven games with the Diablos Rojos del Mexico and has a 1.10 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 16.1 innings thus far for the Naranjeros de Hermosillo.
Guerrero has only started 22 games in his 13-season career, so the Angels will likely utilize him as a depth piece if the bullpen suffers multiple injuries throughout the 2024 regular season. Los Angeles made two significant free-agent acquisitions this month to improve the bullpen, signing sidearmer Adam Cimber and 11-year veteran Luis Garcia.
Guerrero has not had much success at the Major League Baseball level, so a promotion to the big leagues could allow him to redeem himself. In 113 career MLB games, he owns a 5.77 ERA and walks 5.7 hitters per nine innings.
His struggles are a pivotal reason why he was traded by the San Diego Padres, designated for assignment by the Miami Marlins, and released by the Chicago White Sox, all in three years. However, Guerrero has been a solid contributor to the Colombian national baseball team in international play and throws his fastball upwards of 100 mph. He represented Colombia at the 2017 and 2023 World Baseball Classic.
If Guerrero can locate his fastball and limit walks in the minors for the first few months of the 2024 season, he might appear in the big leagues for the first time since 2019. However, he is out of options and cannot be sent back to the minors without being placed on waivers if he struggles.
The Los Angeles Angels will open up Cactus League play in spring training on Saturday, February 24, 2024, against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Arizona. Their top prospects will also face the Dodgers on March 16 in the inaugural “Spring Breakout.”