Grading Angels GM Perry Minasian this offseason (Part 1)

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Arte Moreno, Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

The Angels and GM Perry Minasian have addressed some needs so far this offseason, but there is still a lot of work to be done in little time.

A year ago, if you asked new Angels general manager Perry Minasian what he thought his first offseason as an MLB-GM would be like, he probably would not have imagined this.

The global pandemic has also metaphorically infected the offseason MLB market. Things are finally beginning to speed up a bit, thanks to Commissioner Rob Manfred announcing a 162-games season with spring training to start on-time. A few unanswered questions like fans (real human beings) in attendance and a universal designated hitter will give teams a better idea of how to shape their rosters.

Most Angels fans probably find it hard to believe, but the Halos have been one of the more active teams in the offseason. The moves Minasian has made aren’t nearly as big as some acquisitions we’ve seen, but they are cost-effective.

“It’s been a different offseason,” Minasian told the OC Register on Monday. “It seems like there’s been less activity. We’ve been on of the more active teams and it seems like we haven’t done anything in a year.”

OVERALL GRADE: C+

First, I’d like to be clear on why I’m giving this grade. This is the first part of the offseason report card for Minasian and is a grade that will change depending on transactions made in the next month. I think these are all good moves that can turn into great or cheap moves, depending on which other impact players are brought in.

Once we see how Minasian follows up with the recent acquisitions, we can get a better idea of the type of general manager he will be. The following moves aren’t every transaction, but the ones considered to have an impact for this season.

There will be a second part to this piece just before the start of spring training. The Angels are still to be determined, though most teams have their pitchers and catchers scheduled to report Feb 16-17.

That being said, there are areas of this team that still need to be addressed like starting pitching. The moves thus far have required a small portion of the team’s salary, leaving room for greater improvement if they bring in a player like Trevor Bauer, or multiple relievers.

There is still a ways to go, but so far Minasian has put this team in a position to add more talent. No pressure, but the clock is ticking.

Jose Iglesias (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

Jose Iglesias will be a great fit at shortstop for the Angels this season.

The first order of business for Minasian this season was to replace free-agent shortstop Andrelton Simmons. Less than two weeks into his new role as general manager, Minasian found his replacement by acquiring Jose Iglesias.

On Dec 2, Minasian traded minor league pitchers Jean Pinto and Garrett Stallings to the Orioles for Iglesias. The shortstop is entering his tenth season in the big leagues and is coming off a fantastic year at the plate.

Jose Iglesias Last Three Seasons:

2018: (125 games) .269 BA 5 HR 48 RBI .699 OPS
2019: (146 games) .288 BA 11 HR 59 RBI .724 OPS
2020: (39 games) .373 BA 3 HR 24 RBI .956 OPS

Iglesias, 30, will make $3.5 million in the final year of his contract for the 2021 season. It’s likely the shortstop is just a plug-in for this year, but the Halos are still getting a solid and underrated player.

The Angels are the third team in three seasons for Iglesias. He played for Baltimore last season and Cincinnatti the year before. Prior to that, Iglesias spent five seasons with the Tigers and earned an All-Star bid in 2015.

Defensively, Iglesias is not as good at the shortstop position as Simmons. It’s not a huge downgrade, and Iglesias’ offense and a team-friendly contract will put the Halos in a better spot this season.

Stallings, one of the prospects traded, was ranked as the Angels’ 21st ranked prospect and projected as an end of the rotation started. Pinto was an unranked pitcher and considered more of a developmental project.

Given the immediate impact of Iglesias, this is a trade that seems to favor Minasian and the Angels, for now.

Raisel Iglesias (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

The Angels upgraded their bullpen with the additions of Raisel Iglesias and Alex Claudio.

Five days after his first trade with the organization, Minasian made another for the team’s likely closer. On Dec 7, the Angels traded pitcher Noe Ramirez, minor league shortstop Leo Rivas, and cash considerations to the Reds in exchange for Raisel Iglesias.

Iglesias turned 31-years old at the beginning of this month and will make $9.125 million in the final year of his contract this season. I think this will prove to be a great rental for the Angels.

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The right-hander posted a 2.74 ERA and 6.20 K/BB ratio in 23 innings last season. Iglesias also notched eight saves in 2020 and 30-plus saves in each of the two prior seasons.

Minasian continued adding to his bullpen on Dec 16, when the team signed left-hander Alex Claudio to a one-year, $1.25 million deal. The soon-to-be 29-year old is a lefty specialist, holding a career .202 BA and .556 OPS against left-handed hitters.

Claudio will enter his ninth year in the big leagues after previously spending time with the Brewers and Rangers. The new Angels reliever will join Patrick Sandoval as the only left-handed bullpen arms on the active roster.

The additions of Iglesias and Claudio aren’t enough to put the Angels bullpen over the top, but it’s a start. Minasian has a nice foundation to work with and is one or two additional arms away from turning the Halos ‘pen into one of the best in baseball.

Kurt Suzuki (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

The Kurt Suzuki gives the Angels a veteran catcher and financial flexibility for more moves.

After it was announced catcher Max Stassi would likely miss the beginning of the season due to hip surgery, the Angels were looking to upgrade the position. There were multiple trade rumors for Willson Contreras and reports of the team going after JT Realmuto, but Minasian went a different direction. The Angels instead signed veteran free-agent Kurt Suzuki to a one-year, $1.5 million deal on Friday.

Perry Minasian said Kurt Suzuki turned down more money elsewhere to sign with the Angels: “This was where he wanted to be."
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) January 16, 2021

It’s hard not to respect a 14-year player like Suzuki especially when it’s reported he took a pay-cut to play for the Angels. Suzuki was one of the catching options I suggested the Halos target this offseason. I think it’s another good move by Minasian, and will be great if he continues to improve the roster.

“Part of bringing in a guy like Kurt Suzuki [is] it’s such a demanding position, not only physically but mentally,” Minasian said. “You’re trusting the person behind the plate to make 150 to 175, 200 decisions a night. They have a huge impact on whether you win or lose the game. So to have two guys like Stassi and Suzuki, we feel really good about that.”

I already touched on what to expect from this signing moving forward, so I won’t go too in-depth here. I think every team needs a veteran catcher to guide them through the season. Suzuki will improve the rotation and help the growth of Stassi when he’s ready to return as well.

Next. $800K holds up Ohtani deal, arbitration on the way

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All of the cost-effective moves by Minasian thus far are setting up the Angels to make a big splash(es) at some point this offseason. One or more impact players will turn this grade from a C+ to an A+. However, if Minasian and the Angels settle for Suzuki being the team’s biggest acquisition, it’s going to be a long season for the new general manager.

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