Ryan Noda

Noda went from a potentially promising Rule 5 draft find in 2023 to being designated for assignment by the Athletics after the 2024 season. Noda used his guaranteed time on the big league roster in 2023 to show a Moneyball-ish approach that likely endeared him to his employer, but that approach was very much exploited in 2024, and the A's mercifully pulled the plug on the Noda experiment after watching him slug .211 (yes, slug!) in 111 plate appearances. Noda spent most of the season in Triple-A and drew his walks, hit his homers and struck out a bunch around those events. Noda was picked up by the Angels in the winter and will be organizational insurance for Nolan Schanuel if he can put his 2024 struggles behind him. Until such a time comes, Noda can safely be left to the free agent pile. Read Past Outlooks