The Angels on Monday outrighted infielder David Fletcher, which removes him from the 40-man roster.

Fletcher remains in the Angels’ organization. He will be playing for Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday.

Although it’s mostly a paperwork move, it is nonetheless a sign of how Fletcher’s role in the organization has diminished. He had to clear waivers before he could be outrighted.

Fletcher, 28, is due more than $20 million through the 2025 season after signing a five-year contract extension two years ago. The Cypress High and Loyola Marymount product had started just four of the Angels’ first 12 games before he was optioned to create a roster spot for shortstop Zach Neto.

The Angels now have an open 40-man roster spot they could be planning to fill in the next 24 hours.

Fletcher was less than two months away from reaching five years of service time when he was demoted on Saturday. At that point, the Angels could no longer have optioned him.

“It was a hard conversation,” Manager Phil Nevin said on Saturday, “but he took it well and he’s ready to go down and work.”

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