Blake Parker makes Los Angeles Angels roster after sparkling spring

The Los Angeles Angels first big deadline of the 2017 MLB season passed at noon ET on Sunday. The team submitted their 25-man roster to open the season.

The Los Angeles Angels finalized their roster, per Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times who has reported that relief pitcher Blake Parker has made the team:

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The Angels have acquired the 31–year old Parker twice in the last six months. They first picked him up last October before losing him to Milwaukee on waivers in November. The Angels then re-acquired him exactly a month later on December 23rd.

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Parker has moved around since being released by the Chicago Cubs in 2015. First it was the Seattle Mariners in 2016, then he was on to the New York Yankees. Finally, when the Yankees released him it began the previously mentioned Angels-Brewers-Angels cycle.

Blake Parker owns a career 3.87 ERA and 9.9 SO/9 IP in the majors, but has struggled to stick in the bigs thus far. With the Cubs in 2013 Parker showed he could be a capable relief pitcher. That season he pitched to a 2.72 ERA and finished 18 games. Because of those numbers, teams are willing to give him a chance.

This spring Parker has shown the Angels that he can get batters out  (24 K over 12.1 innings.) As a result, he made the 2017 opening day roster.

Parker has been mixing in a four-seam fastball, splittler, and a curve ball this spring. To this point it has resulted in a lot of swings and misses for the pitcher. Parker has typically sported good K/9 numbers (including in the majors.)

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If Parker can translate this spring’s success to the 2017 season he seems likely to slot into a middle relief role for the Angels. Fans should get to see plenty of Parker bridging the gap from starter to set-up man, hopefully with plenty of strikeouts.