Jared Walsh, who was an All-Star in 2021, was among six players outrighted by the Angels on Monday. It’s the first step toward all six of them becoming free agents.

Right-handers Jaime Barria and Carson Fullmer, left-hander Jhonathan Diaz, outfielder Brett Phillips and catcher Chad Wallach were also outrighted.

Walsh, Barria, Phillps and Wallach were all arbitration eligible, making them candidates to be non-tendered in November. This move simply shifts the timeline on their potential free agency up by a month.

All six players will officially become free agents once they refuse the outright assignment. The Angels could eventually re-sign any of the players.

Walsh, 30, never returned to the level he reached in his breakthrough season in 2021, when he hit 29 homers with an .850 OPS. In 2022, he battled thoracic outlet syndrome, hitting .215 with 15 homers and a .642 OPS.

This season, Walsh struggled with insomnia and neurological issues in April and early May. Once he was finally activated, he struggled and was sent back to Triple-A. Walsh returned to the majors in September, in which he was 5 for 37 with 19 strikeouts and no walks. For the season, he hit .125 with four homers and a .494 OPS.

Barria, 27, had a 2.61 ERA, pitching mostly in long relief, in 2022, but he had a 5.68 ERA in 2023.

Wallach, 31, was one of the Angels primary catchers for much of the season, while Logan O’Hoppe was injured.

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