The Angels this week "reversed course on their decision to furlough nine scouts" after MLB "lifted a ban on in-person scouting," according to Maria Torres of the L.A. TIMES. The Angels last month "drew criticism when they announced severe cuts across various departments." Among them, members of the club's "player development staff and minor league coaches and coordinators would be furloughed June 1," and all of their "area scouts were to be furloughed on that date." But MLB on Monday informed teams that they "could resume in-person scouting with a limit of three scouts per amateur event" (L.A. TIMES, 6/19).
HELPING HAND: In California, Jeff Fletcher cites a source as saying that Angels DH Albert Pujols is "paying $180,000 out of pocket to support furloughed Angels employees in the Dominican Republic for five months." The Angels have a complex in the Dominican Republic, and the media guide "lists two coordinators of Latin American operations." There also are "nine staff members assigned to the Dominican Summer League team," and the media guide "lists four scouts and one administrator as part of their Dominican operation." It was "unclear exactly how many Angels employees will receive money from Pujols" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 6/19). The TIMES' Torres notes the Angels "stopped paying their employees in the Dominican Republic this month." Nearly all staff based at the team's academy in Boca Chica, which is where "most international prospects being their professional careers, were temporarily removed from the payroll." A source estimated that "about 90% of employees were affected" (L.A. TIMES, 6/19).
