MLB Trade Rumors predicts LA Angels will sign these 2 free agents
The Angels offseason is going to be halted with the MLB lockout, but they still have chances to get a lot done once it ends.
The Halos began the offseason aggressively going after pitching, but have since shied away from the hot stove. Noah Syndergaard and Aaron Loup were huge signings, but I'm not so sure about Michael Lorenzen.
MLB Trade Rumors, however, had the Angels going after multiple free agent pitchers who are still available. Two of their Top 50 Free Agents are to be headed to Anaheim according to Tim Dierkes over at MLBTR.
Danny Duffy and Ryan Tepera are predicted to go to the LA Angels by Dierkes of MLBTR.
Danny Duffy and Ryan Tepera were predicted to sign with the LA Angels for cheap, according to Dierkes. Duffy is to sign a one-year/$10 million deal, and Tepera is expected to go for two years, $12 million.
I love that Tepera idea, but not so much the Duffy prediction. Tepera would be a great option for the Angels, as he was lights out when he headed back to the AL this season.
He started the year on the Cubs, and was very good; posting a 2.91 ERA with an 0.785 WHIP. He was arguably even better, however, when he went down to the South Side. He posted a 2.50 ERA, a 2.56 FIP (0.24 lower), and a 12 K/9 rate (1.6 higher).
Believe it or not, I really like the momentum Tepera's riding right now. A career 3.48 ERA guy with a 1.117 career WHIP, there's a lot to like about potentially signing Tepera.
With Duffy, however, there's not as much to like due to the injury he suffered this season.
Make no mistake about it--Duffy was having perhaps the best season of his career before he got hurt, but signing two injury-prone starters in one offseason when we dealt with so many injuries last year worries me.
If we do sign Duffy, however, we're getting someone who's recently been tremendous while on the field. He recorded a 2.51 ERA last year, with a career-high 9.6 K/9 rate. He posted an insane 184 ERA+, so I completely see why the Angels are seen as a possibility.
We need to be aggressive with pitching, so I get it. I would just rather go with more durable guys.
I'm more than happy to go with Tepera, however, and still believe that this front office can field a championship-caliber roster next season.