LA Angels: Three Worst, Three Best Offseason Acquisitions After Three Weeks

2 of 3

ANAHEIM, CA – APRIL 10: Manager Brad Ausmus of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim holds back his catcher Kevan Smith after he was ejected from the game by home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi in the seventh inning while playing the Milwaukee Brewers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 10, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

The LA Angels were one of the most active teams throughout the entire offseason, bringing in six new players via trade or free agency.

While the results have been mixed for the first-time LA Angels, some new faces performing extremely well while others struggling mightily, it seems to be an overall solid group of free agents. Today, however, we’ll be ranking the three worst and three best new guys in town.

Honorable Mentions:

Brad Ausmus, Manager

While it is too early to tell whether Brad Ausmus is good or bad (I’m leaning good), his arrival has undoubtedly brought changes to the Angels. First off, after years of Mike Scioscia plugging underperforming players into the lineup, Ausmus has shown that production is what will keep players in the lineup. This has shown with players like Peter Bourjos being pushed out in favor of David Fletcher. Once the team is more healthy, it could even push Kole Calhoun out of the starting lineup if he doesn’t get his bat on track.

Want your voice heard? Join the Halo Hangout team!

Write for us!

Ausmus has also done a good job so far this year with the bullpen. While they have had to pitch a lot of innings as a unit, he has done a good job of spreading those innings out amongst his relievers to keep them fresh. The roles he has for the group have also been well-chosen, for example using Ty Buttrey as the “fireman” and using his in the highest leverage situation regardless of inning.

Doug White, Pitching Coach

Apart of the new regime, the magic of Doug White has already shown in Anaheim. In Spring Training, the team began using Rapsodo technology in their bullpens to advance their analytical department. Tyler Skaggs said he learned more in a few weeks using the new technology than he had in the past few years.

On top of that, White has taken his pitchers to the next level. Another great example for this is Buttrey. A somewhat unproven prospect after last season, White has taken the raw velocity and movement Buttrey possessed and turned him into one of the best relievers in the American League.

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 09: Matt Harvey #33 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim looks on after allowing a homerun by Yasmani Grandal #10 of the Milwaukee Brewers during the fourth inning of a game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 09, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Third Worst: Tommy La Stella

While he has been turning it on more so in recent weeks than at the very beginning of the season, La Stella has still be more bad than good. He does offer some slugging to the lineup, which is valuable from a position such as second base.

The real problem with La Stella seems to be his defensive miscues. More than a few times this season it seems as if La Stella either tries to much on a play or gets in the way of a play he doesn’t need to be apart of. With a defensive wizard like Andrelton Simmons on his right, he just needs to play solid second base and allow the extra dazzling to be done by Simmons.

More from Halo Hangout

La Stella is best fit to be a first man off the bench type of player, but with the Angels’ lack of power until Ohtani and Justin Upton return, he’ll continue seeing time at second. If he continues his hot hitting, La Stella could very well end up in the “three best” portion of this article in the future.

Second Worst: Justin Bour

Originally brought in to hopefully platoon over at first base with Albert Pujols, he has been forced into extra playing time with Shohei Ohtani out. While that could change into a more favorable role for Bour when Ohtani does return to the everyday lineup, at this point in time he has underperformed.

Hitting well below his career averages in every category, Bour has been a liability at the plate. We all knew he wasn’t great against southpaws and could absolutely mash against righties, but he hasn’t hit well no matter what hand the pitcher uses. He doesn’t provide any value on defense or the base paths either, so until he can be a platoon option solely against right-handed pitching, he’ll continue to underwhelm.

The Worst of the Worst: Matt Harvey

This one hurts to write, as I spent the entire offseason thinking and writing and telling others about how this will be the year. His velocity was coming back in Cincinnati, and it seemed like a new home stadium was all Harvey needed.

However, we all know how bad Harvey has been. After a first outing that was exceptional, he has delivered three straight starts that weren’t just underwhelming, but downright awful.

He has been hit hard and often in his past three starts, giving up long ball after long ball (I’m pretty sure Matt Harvey has nightmares of Joey Gallo nowadays). While his whiff rate was a good indicator that he might just be getting unlucky, it seems like Harvey is falling further and further down this hole.

SEATTLE, WA – APRIL 02: Trevor Cahill #53 and Jonathan Lucroy #20 huddle with pitching coach Doug White in the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on April 2, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images) /

Third Best: Cody Allen

The fact that Cody Allen is the third best rather than first or second is merely because he seemingly hasn’t been used or tested much this year. He has only allowed one run in his 6.1 innings pitched and has converted all four of his save opportunities.

Overall, Allen has been extremely solid and is proving he knows how to navigate the late innings even without the velocity he had prior to signing with the Angels. He is a vital part of the Halo’s bullpen, which has been an elite unit for the organization in 2019.

Second Best: Jonathan Lucroy

One of the most important parts of the Angels improved rotation and bullpen has been Jonathan Lucroy. His game management and framing behind the plate have been noticeable. Those two skills were something that Lucroy has brought with him wherever he has gone in his career.

After losing fan favorite Martin Maldonado last year, Lucroy is a very similar catcher, with the only difference being Maldonado’s arm is superior. However, Lucroy makes up for that at the plate, where he has been a consistent hitter. His .278 average is one of the best on the team. The Angels bet on him having a bounce back year at the plate after hitting only .241 last year, and that gamble is certainly paying off so far into the season.

Could Kole Calhoun Lose His Starting Job?. Next

The Best of the Best: Trevor Cahill

I’ve said it a handful of times this year, but I was very, very wrong about Cahill. After his signing with the Angels I saw a guy with awful home/road splits after pitching in Oakland last year. However, even with his poor start last time out, he has undoubtedly been the best starter for the Angels this season, and it isn’t relatively close.

One overall problem for the rotation has been its inability to go deep into games, which in turn exhausts the bullpen. Cahill, however, has been able to get through the sixth inning in three of his four starts. That itself is valuable, but the fact that he does so with efficiency makes him that much better for the team, and the best signing or trade from this offseason by far.

Home / LA Angels News