Angels under-the-radar waiver claim has proven he can be valuable in 2027

Back in early August, the Los Angeles made a waiver claim to get Ryan Watson, who had been cut loose by the Boston Red Sox. The righty was a Rule 5 draft pick over the offseason, who had been average at best for the Red Sox.

Doing mostly cleanup duties in Boston, Watson pitched 55 2/3 innings in 35 games. He had a 4.35 ERA with a 1.31 WHIP. He struck out 43 and walked 19. He was exactly replacement level, with 0.0 fWAR and bWAR in his time in Boston, and they designated him for assignment on August 4. The Angels claimed him on August 7 and he joined the team on August 9, and has been one of the most valuable relievers since.

Watson has made 16 appearances for the LA and has been shut down. In 14 1/3 innings, the righty has a 1.88 ERA, a 0.98 WHIP, and a 1.35 FIP. He has 17 strikeouts and just three walks. Watson has accumulated 0.6 fWAR in his month-plus with the Halos, the tenth most in that span.

Ryan Watson has been a breathe of fresh air compared to what the Angels had gotten this season from their relievers

The bullpen has been a major area of weakness for the Angels this season. For the entire season, Angels relievers have a combined 4.34 ERA, which ranks 21st in the majors. They have struggled to find consistency in late innings, also. They have 28 blown saves this season, the fourth most.

On the individual level, LA only has one reliever with more than 1.0 fWAR. Of the ten relievers who have pitched 20 or more innings out of the pen for them, only one has an ERA below 3.00: Chase Silseth, who was traded away at the deadline. They only have two other relievers who have ERA's south of 3.50. There are 123 relievers in baseball this season who have pitched more than 20 innings in relief and have a 3.49 or better ERA.

Ryan Watson already has the second-highest fWAR for an Angels reliever this season. He has already carved himself a role in the late innings; all of his appearances have come in the 7th inning or later. The 28-year-old went from a mop-up guy and DFA'd to a late-inning reliever with just a change of scenery.

Sometimes waiver claims are just filler players who don't stick around. Watson has proved he is going to be more than that. Even though it's a limited sample, Watson has already proved to the organization that he can be a key member of their bullpen in 2027.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow