LA Angels: Matt Andriese signs with the Boston Red Sox

Matt Andriese was one of the only consistent pitchers in the Angels’ bullpen in 2020 and he is signing with the Boston Red Sox.

Matt Andriese, the 31-year-old journeyman who pitched 32 innings for the Angels in 2020, will be moving on. Andriese has bounced around the major leagues, starting out with the Tampa Bay Rays then moving to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Angels. Andriese is one of the only pitchers in baseball who is capable of making a spot start and capable out of the bullpen at all times. His role at every stop has been unique and he figures to continue that trend with Boston.

While Andriese is not a difference-making reliever nor starter, he is still someone the Angels very well could have used in 2020 given their current lack of depth both in their rotation and bullpen. Andriese posted a 3.64 xERA (expected ERA according to Baseball Savant) and struck out 33 batters in 32 innings. He very well could have filled the role of a swingman — someone that fills in during times of need and someone who can be an innings eater.

Andriese has not done a solid job of limiting hard contact across his major league career, but posted a 75th percentile hard hit rate allowed in 2019 and a 58th percentile mark in 2020. While this came after a 2018 season where he was in the 1st percentile (awful) in hard hit rate allowed, Andriese seems like a new pitcher. It appears he has made some tangible changes with his pitch mix and design and should continue to thrive as a revitalized pitcher elsewhere.

Again, the 31 year old right hander is no one to write home about, but he is still someone who would have been serviceable to the Angels in 2021 all things considered. He was serviceable for them in 2020 and the Angels still decided not to match a one-year, $2.1 million deal for him. If the Angels have bigger and better plans, this is all moot. Let’s hope the Angels are going after some big bullpen fish like Liam Hendriks.