The Angels have agreed to a minor league contract with right-hander Parker Bridwell, according to multiple reports (including Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, on Twitter). It’ll be his third stint with the Halos organization. Presumably, he’ll eventually find his way to Triple-A Salt Lake, though he could also get his feet wet in extended Spring Training or with a lower-level affiliate early on. He’d been with the Athletics in Spring Training but was released a few days into the season after failing to break camp with the A’s.
Bridwell, 27, had an awful 2018 season but was a key member of the Halos’ pitching staff as recently as 2017. That year, he pitched to a 3.64 ERA in 121 innings (20 starts, one relief appearance). Bridwell’s meager 5.4 K/9 mark and sky-high strand rate pointed to some regression, though certainly not to the extent that he struggled last year (13 runs in 6 2/3 MLB frames; 27 runs in 28 Triple-A innings).
The Angels know they’ll be without Andrew Heaney for at least another month, and they opened the year with Nick Tropeano (shoulder) and J.C. Ramirez (recovering from 2018 Tommy John surgery) on the injured list as well. Beyond that, they will of course be without Shohei Ohtani’s presence in the rotation for the entire 2019 season. Injury issues have utterly decimated the Angels’ pitching staff for the past few seasons, so adding a familiar face who’s had success in the upper minors and at the MLB level is a logical move.
He has awesome spin rate
Welcome to spin rate101
I give you his spin rates. You do the research:
fastball (2,433 rpm)
curveball (2,821 rpm)
cutter (2,525 rpm)
Basically all above average. He’s a Spin rate pitcher. Bridwell‘s greatest potential, lies in spin rate, if he does well, you become a spin rate believer
great spin rate
but can he p i t c h and get guys out?
After 19 years of Scioscia, who had to be dragged into shifting, I’m glad the Angels finally have people who are even trying to find the next edge.
This organization was a dinosaur for years.
Woof. 28 innings and 50 hits in the minor leagues last year. He then followed that up with 6.2 innings of 14 hit ball in the majors. It looks like the ball spun right to every hitters barrel.
With that aside he was never anywhere near that hittable in his minor league career. You’d have to think something wasn’t right. Possibly an injury or he was tipping pitches. I don’t know but that’s brutal.
Bring back the downvote!
Still waiting for the answ to cereal’s question, toddfather.
Spin rate is talked about a lot. How does spin rate equate to outs?
Less than 50 words, you used spin rate used 6x. Lay off the caffeine.
You took the time to count his words and you’re telling him to lay off the caffeine? 🙂
Yet the batters bats are apparently spinning faster…..
You put a nice spin on it
Man, Trout looks like he’s somehow, even better than ever this season, and he just left the game with an injury.. That’s a real bummer; I hope it’s not serious.
It’s a shame the Angels won’t pay for quality pitching
Who wont the Angels pay for? They went after Corbin, look what he signed for.
They won’t pay for an average pitcher, Kuechel who wants a fortune. They went after Eovaldi and it looks like they are lucky they dodged that bullet.
They didn’t spend a ton on RPs. Should they have gone the Yankee way? Do you know who has the best RP ERA in baseball this year? The Angels.
Without their #1 pitcher and their #2 and #3 hitters in the lineup, they are doing OK. With all the money coming off the books next year and Adell ready to take over right field. I’m optimistic.
The angels gave a good chunk of money to 2 guys with serious issues this offseason. Why they ever gave Matt Harvey 11 (14 if he’s in the rotation all year) million is beyond me. That deal was horrific the day they signed it. If Cahill can stay healthy he’ll be a decent pickup but given his track record that’s a dicey proposition. I’m 100% positive they could’ve spent that Matt Harvey money much better. Could’ve gotten a starting 2B and a reclamation project pitcher with more upside than paying Matt Harvey for what he did 5 years ago.
I think most Angels fans are thinking what you are thinking. but it’s short-sided.
The Angels are trying to band-aide for this year only. THIS YEAR ONLY… With Harvey and Cahill, it’s not the money, it’s the length.
I’m not so sure the Angels could have been aggressive this off-season and added better one year options. Harvey hit 96 yesterday. I’m not ready to give up on him after 2 bad starts.
The Angels are trying to add enough to compete for the second wild card team without leveraging their flexibility for 2020.
Next year a lot of pieces should come together and they will go hard in the free agent market.
There’s probably 10 better one year deals than Harvey received. Non tendering shoemaker was idiotic. Shoe, Pomeranz, Gio Gonzalez, Derek Holland, Wade Miley, Brett Anderson. You could’ve had two of those guys for less than one Matt Harvey. Giving Harvey 14 million bucks (as long as he’s in the rotation most of the year) was a piss poor decision. I’m positive that money could’ve been spent better. Not to mention the starting caliber 2B like Schoop who signed on one year deals for less cash.
Going into the season w 2 of tommy la Stella, David Fletcher, and zack Cozart starting was predictably going to be a huge mistake.
I mean, call me crazy but why not pick up the phone and offer James Shields a few million? Honestly, the Angels’ should literally be operating on that “well, we can’t possibly get any worse” mentality, because that is pretty much the truth. Why would you not bring a guy on board who has NEVER been injured and, even at age 37 (?), would STILL give you more innings of 4.00 ERA ball than their next 3 pitchers combined. I really don’t quite understand why they wouldn’t take a 100% no=risk chance like this…They have absolutely nothing to lose.
James Shields is awful. He’s worse than Bariria who is now pitching at AAA.
The Angles need Heaney back.
Couldn’t get any worse? They just won 5 straight.
I agree. Shields is still basically, a league average or slightly worse pitcher who still soaks up innings. The Angels have, possibly, the greatest player in the history of baseball on their roster. They should be going for it every year. They shouldn’t waste Trout.
Blah blah blah, trade away the farm to win now, sounds like a great idea.
Greatest player ever ahead of Bane Ruth? No way.
Trout 10 War
The Great Bambino 15.9 War
If they’re still in the hunt after the draft I can definitely see them being the front runners for Keuchel.
only if his price tag drops!
After the draft pick option is no longer available, the Angels will likely reevaluate. So will ten other teams and the Angels will not offer more than 1 year.
My guess is, they are going hard into the free agent market next year. .
We just won 5 straight even with some surprise injuries. Once Heaney, et al, start to trickle back, I think we will be on solid ground for a playoff spot, with the understanding that it’s way early in the season still.
The Angels were always trying to stay close enough to the A’s, Twins and Rays for that second playoff spot. Now throw the M’s into the mix.
Not great odds.but that’s what they are playing for. The Angels are not a bad team.