MLB Trade Rumors broke the news that the Angels have agreed to a minor league contract with outfielder Cade Marlowe, a low-cost, low-risk add designed purely for depth as Los Angeles works through the trade deadline stretch. It's the kind of move that never makes SportsCenter, but rosters get chewed up in July, and teams need bodies who can play all three outfield spots on short notice.
MLB Trade Rumors broke the news of the Angels' minor league agreement with Marlowe.
Marlowe isn't a household name, but he's got a real MLB moment attached to him. The Mariners drafted him in the 20th round back in 2019 out of Division II West Georgia, where he set the program's career stolen base record. He debuted with Seattle in 2023 and, fittingly given his new employer, one of the highlights of his brief big-league career came against the Angels — a ninth-inning grand slam that season.
Since then it's been a grind. Marlowe bounced between Triple-A and the majors for Seattle across 2023 and 2024, hitting.240/.330/.406 with 3 homers and 11 RBI in 42 games, before getting designated for assignment this past February. He landed with the Athletics on a minor league deal in December, only to recently opt out and hit the open market again looking for a better opportunity.
That opportunity is now the Angels, an organization that's no stranger to needing outfield reinforcements. Marlowe's calling card has always been his glove and legs — evaluators have long pegged him as a solid defender capable of covering all three outfield positions, with the speed to match. That profile makes him exactly the kind of Triple-A insurance policy contenders like to stash in case of injury or a deadline trade that thins out the big league bench.
Don't expect fireworks from this one right away. Marlowe will report to minor league camp, get everyday at-bats, and wait for his number to get called if the Angels need an extra outfielder in August or September. But for a guy who's already been designated for assignment once and walked away from another org this year, just getting another shot is the story.