Angels have their new closer -> JI = Happy

by andrewgolfsalot on Dec 31, 2008 10:22 AM PST Comment 55 comments

Brian Fuentes and the Angels have reportedly agreed on a deal.

Olney says two years. No dollar value reported.

I don't see it on Fox / SI, but Olney's pretty good authority.

And with the signing the Angels give up their first round pick to the Rockies, leaving them with two first rounders and two supplemental round picks.

Also, JI should be quite the happy camper today, as Fuentes won't be pitching for the Cardinals anytime soon.

Update: LA Times says ~$20M over two years with a club option for a third

0 recs | Comment 55 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

You're goddam right I am

Ben Sheets/Derek Lowe ahoy!

by JI on Dec 31, 2008 10:27 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

*goddamn

by JI on Dec 31, 2008 10:27 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

fuckign hell, not expensive enough

by Matthew on Dec 31, 2008 10:31 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

On the Cardinals budget that deal would have been a disaster.

(But lest we not forget the Brian Fuentes is really really good)

by JI on Dec 31, 2008 10:35 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I was thinking Ryan Franklin when I read the title.

by Omerta on Dec 31, 2008 10:37 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

You can't be the new closer if you are coming off a season in which you were the closer.

by JI on Dec 31, 2008 10:39 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Semantics.

by Omerta on Dec 31, 2008 10:43 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Awesome

The number of picks the Angels were getting in rounds 1 and 1A of the draft were terrifying. Plus, now we get to welcome Fuentes back to Safeco.

by katal on Dec 31, 2008 10:48 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

2Y, $17.5 with a vesting for third year at 9M

gross.

by Matthew on Dec 31, 2008 10:58 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

My favorite part is where the Angels surrender their first pick for a player that doesn't help them very much.

by JI on Dec 31, 2008 11:01 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Fuentes is pretty good.

by Matthew on Dec 31, 2008 11:13 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This thread has lapped itsself

by JI on Dec 31, 2008 11:15 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

From the front page at HH

“I believe this is a good signing which will allow Shields to stay in the 8th inning role and Dondo to develop a bit more.”

by katal on Dec 31, 2008 11:04 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

While the deal is fine in a vacuum

Considering the Angels bullpen was OK to begin with, and they had to surrender their 1st round pick, it’s not that great for them.

by JI on Dec 31, 2008 11:37 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Was hoping for 3/30 :(

by Graham on Dec 31, 2008 11:38 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

And really it's the 25th pick and I think they have the 26th too.

by Graham on Dec 31, 2008 11:38 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure if I'd trade my first round pick for an reliver when my bullpen is already in decent shape.

by JI on Dec 31, 2008 11:44 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought their pick was 33.

I go to law school. Therefore, I have no life.

by andrewgolfsalot on Dec 31, 2008 11:50 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Well it's essentially 3/30 anyway if he closes, since it looks like the vesting option is based on games finished

unless you were referring to that you were hoping it would be 3/30 guaranteed and then he would fall apart in year 2 and the Angels would be on the hook for the last ten million

by seattlebruin on Dec 31, 2008 3:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Read vesting as team option

by Graham on Dec 31, 2008 3:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, but if it doesn't vest

it means that even at 2/18 it’s pretty much a crap deal.

by Bearskin Rugburn on Dec 31, 2008 10:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

By my counts, he's worth about 1 WAR

I may be doing something wrong, but…

by Matthew on Dec 31, 2008 11:47 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

2.8 last year, not accounting for leverage.

by Graham on Dec 31, 2008 11:51 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Based on tRA, not projection.

by Matthew on Dec 31, 2008 11:53 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Last 3 years have been roughly 2, 0.5, 3, again without leverage

I don’t see how you get 1 out of that. I’d expect closer to 2, which would make the deal ~market value.

by Graham on Dec 31, 2008 12:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

His tRA projection is for a 3.7 tRA against a lg average of 4.47

His Marcel says 3.7 FIP against a lg average ~4.4

That comes out to 0.84 – 1.36 wins

by Matthew on Dec 31, 2008 12:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Above numbers include closer's bonus.

by Matthew on Dec 31, 2008 12:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Why are tRA and FIP league averages so close?

by Graham on Dec 31, 2008 12:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Because that's RP league tRA

by Matthew on Dec 31, 2008 12:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Which needs to be Marcel'd, right?

by Graham on Dec 31, 2008 12:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Huh?

Why would you Marcel a league number?

by Matthew on Dec 31, 2008 12:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

To account for the fact that the offensive environment has changed

Otherwise you’re losing the context of his past numbers

by Graham on Dec 31, 2008 12:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

You are using a different projection method than I am.

by Matthew on Dec 31, 2008 12:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

After long conversation and lots of maths...

I think he’s a 2 WAR closer still.

by Graham on Dec 31, 2008 1:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

1.4 is what I end up with.

The .41 subtraction term isn’t right. It’s .45 instead.

by Matthew on Dec 31, 2008 2:15 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

career LD+FB the best of luck with the Angels’ defensive alignment. If that K rate slips below 9 I think he’s not going to be markedly better than any other power reliever. He won’t embarrass himself but he’s no Rivera.

by Bearskin Rugburn on Dec 31, 2008 12:00 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Nobody is

by johnbai on Dec 31, 2008 12:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Rivera is

by Graham on Dec 31, 2008 12:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Haven't you heard?

He’s a shell of himself.

I go to law school. Therefore, I have no life.

by andrewgolfsalot on Dec 31, 2008 12:44 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I keep waiting impatiently for Rivera to implode

It seems every recent season has teased us with it: a bad start early on, a rough patch or two, and out come the premature whispers of “he’s finally cooked!” that rise up to cheers too soon. And then he suddenly turns into the Terminator again.

I’m beginning to think Mo’s gonna be pitching into his 40s.

Patriotism, Pepper, Professionalism

by esoteric on Dec 31, 2008 1:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs