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LA Angels: 3 former LAA free agent pitchers to target

Justin Gideon|
MINNEAPOLIS, MN- JUNE 08: Garrett Richards #43 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches against the Minnesota Twins on June 8, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Angels defeated the Twins 4-2. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN- JUNE 08: Garrett Richards #43 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches against the Minnesota Twins on June 8, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Angels defeated the Twins 4-2. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
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LA Angels target Yusmeiro Petit
Yusmeiro Petit of the Oakland Athletics pitches in 2020. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)

Former LA Angels pitchers to target: Yusmeiro Petit

Yusmeiro Petit’s career as an Angel looks a lot different from that of Richards and Shoemaker. He only played one season for the Halos, it was his 10th year in the league, and he was utilized almost exclusively out of the bullpen (60 relief appearances, 1 start).

Prior to the 2017 season, the Angels signed Petit to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training. During that invite, he proved he deserved a spot on the major league roster. He made the team after appearing in 14 innings, recording a 0.64 ERA and 0.79 WHIP.

He carried that success into the regular season, he solidified himself as one of the most reliable bullpen options on the team. He recorded a 2.76 ERA, 0.953 WHIP, 2.85 FIP, and 10.0 K/9 over 91.1 innings. Not only did the Angels use him frequently, but they also instilled him into many high leverage situations. According to Baseball Reference, he appeared in 31 high leverage situations. During those appearances, he held batters to a minuscule .156/.226/.247 slash line. In other words, he was clutch.

The following offseason, Petit entered free agency again and was soon signed away by the Athletics. He signed a 2-year deal worth $10 million. His time with the Angels was short-lived, but one that Halos fans look back on fondly. It is a relationship that may be worth revisiting for this upcoming season.

Although Petit is 36-years-old, he has shown that he is still playing at peak performance. In 2020, he recorded a 1.66 ERA, 1.108 WHIP, and 4.11 FIP, while holding hitters to a .190/.250/.333 slash line in high leverage situations.

With the Angels still in the hunt for bullpen arms, Petit would make for an exceptional option. Something that the Angels have lacked in the past is a reliable arm in relief, and a Petit signing will more than likely ease those concerns heading into 2021.

The pitching market may be thin, but there are familiar faces that the Angels should seriously consider reuniting with.

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