The Angels have signed former Braves left-hander Luiz Gohara to a minor league contract, Roster Roundup reports.
Gohara had been on the open market since the Braves released him Aug. 2, which came shortly after they designated him for assignment. It came as a surprise at the time that Atlanta decided to cut ties with Gohara, who was once a high-ranking prospect with the organization. However, physical problems have undermined the 23-year-old this season. A shoulder issue has prevented Gohara from taking the mound since 2018, and he won’t pitch at all this year as a result of the injury.
Last season was difficult at both the major and minor league levels for Gohara, but he did show positive signs in 2017. Gohara debuted in the majors that year and tossed 29 1/3 innings (five starts) of 4.91 ERA/2.75 FIP ball with 9.51 K/9 and 2.45 BB/9, averaging 96 mph on his fastball in the process. He also amassed 123 2/3 frames of 2.62 ERA pitching and notched 10.7 K/9 with 3.2 BB/9 across three levels in the minors.
Regardless of whether Gohara’s able to return to his old form, it’s worth it from the pitcher-needy Angels’ perspective to take a risk-free flier on him. The out-of-contention club figures to place a great deal of emphasis this offseason on improving its staff heading into 2020, when Gohara might be able to help its cause.
2 year minor league deal?
There’s not a need for it. Probably just a milb prove it type contract. Exploratory shoulder surgery is always worrisome, but if healthy and able to produce the Angels add him to the 40. Goharra still has an option left which most likely alleviates the need for a two year contract.
He’ll be rule 5 eligible if they don’t place him on the 40 man this offseason. Of course it’s highly unlikely any team would take him considering he’s a complete wild card at this point in time.
His original organization has gone through a record number of pitchers this season, hasn’t found much success, and won’t be super competitive next season either. Could see the M’s taking him in the rule 5 and seeing if he has anything to offer.
It’s hard to imagine anyone keeping him on the roster the entire season, let alone the offseason. It looks like Phillies 2017 is probably correct, and I was wrong. He did fulfill his 7th season on a milb roster. Iit’ll be interesting to follow this development. If he didn’t sign a milb contract that runs through 20 he could technically become an milb FA if not added to the 40 man.
Probably free all you can eat buffet and Gohara jumped on it!
Hard to imagine his injuries could get any wo-
Oh. The Angels just signed him.
It’s kind of surprising he went unsigned this long. I mean yeah, he’s hurt and wasn’t all that effective last year. But he’s only 22 and throws 96MPH — if he had 0 ML experience and was an international prospect – teams would’ve been all over him in terms of an international signing bonus type deal — and he doesnt even count against the signing pool bonus! Nice low-risk/potentially high reward signing!
He might not throw 96 anymore.
I think the injury problems are far worse than a typical TJ or something of that sort. That’s the reason for this. For the Braves to outright release him I would have to imagine things do not look good.
I’m sure his injury isn’t good but it’s more than that with this guy. Not only is he always injured but he won’t put any effort in. He eats everything in sight and is never in good shape. To top it off, right after he got healthy from one of his injuries he told the Braves he had to leave the country midseason to go see his grandma because she was on her death bed. He was gone for weeks and then came back and said she is healthier than ever before. This was all during a playoff race when we started the season with him penciled into the rotation. Here we are almost 2 years later and good ol’ g-ma is still alive and kickin. I think due to his previous prospect status he took his roster spot for granted. It’s like he is satisfied to make the major league minimum as lo g as he doesn’t have to work for it. He figured out early on that is he gets injured on a major league field they have to pay him the major league rate while is on the IL and not working. I’m also pretty sure he isn’t a particularly positive clubhouse presence either.
What the hell is wrong with you Seck?
Jabba Chamberlain 2 0. Injuries included
What makes you ask that? When I read that the Braves released him with all those guaranteed minimum salary years left I looked into his story pretty deeply. It all started when I questioned the release and a Seattle fan responded to me. We acquired him from Seattle for CF Mallex Smith (who last year was great defensively, had a ton of at bats, hit over .290 and led the league in triples). When the Braves acquired Gohara for Smith it was because Gohara was the best pitching prospect in the Seattle system. It was also because Seattle had a terrible system. Even with all of that information Seattle was already fed up with him. If you are referring to what I said about him leaving for his grandmas health then I understand but I doubt you know enough. It is widely believed that the Braves brass think that was a bs move to get out of working hard and staying in shape. It’s even more widely believed that the M’s traded him because they saw some scenario like this coming from him. I am not trying to argue or offend anyone. Just let everyone know what I have read. If you know something I don’t I would love to find out more.
rustyhinge: one of the best handles in Trade Rumors
From what I read his grandma just had “flu like symptoms.” I think when he came back and said she was in great health I think the Braves figured it was just another ploy to get out of working while still collecting what would be considered a massive paycheck by the average Joe. They had already bent over backwards for him and all is “injuries” and hebdid that right after an injury during the time the Braves gave him the best opportunity of his life. Even after all the injuries he was one of the mere 150 people on the planet that was offered the opportunity to be a Major League Baseball starting pitcher. He had something to prove and couldn’t wait to find a fruitless excuse to avoid the responsibility that came with it. It would be different is his grandma had a heart attack or some chronic or termibal terminal illness. None of that was even remotely the case. The Braves still gave him a shot after that. This Spring training he started to complain about his shoulder that he had already had surgery on due to an injury that occurred on a major league field. “Coincidentally” that was the last injury he acquired which kept him out all last season. He didn’t complain about anything at all until it became time for him to pitch again. Once that happened he said he felt sore. The Braves paid for him to get x-rayed and examined medically. It was determined by doctors that there was little or no loose cartilage and a surprisingly small amount of scar tissue for that kind of surgery. Almost all MLB pitchers that go through surgery pitch with more cartilage/scar tissue/soreness/pain than he could possibly be going through. John Smoltz, Tim Hudson, Chris Sale, Mike Soroka and many others come to mind. I am sure there are literally hundreds of others. Gohara elected to go under the knife again to remove a minimal amount of scar tissue from his arm. Every time anyone has surgery there is scar tissue. In Gohara’s case the scar tissue was so minimal that the arthroscopic surgery was likely to cause more scar tissue than it removed. The Braves did the honorable thing. They paid for the surgery he said he wanted but probably didn’t need. Then they tried to trade him at the deadline. When no team would bite they cut their losses. If he really wanted to try he would stay in shape. There have been some incredible big guys in the league: Ruth, Wells, Ortiz, Sabathia. There have been way more terrible big guys than great ones. There is rarely an in between (unless steroids are involved like No Vaughn’s case). I doubt Gohara will be great.
Not really. He’s out for the season with an injury, so it’s not like someone was going to get him on the mound immediately. Considering the injury history, he probably wanted to talk with a number of teams on how they would handle his rehab, make sure he’s comfortable with the doctors and training staff, etc.
Will eat up innings. I’ll be here all night
has to stay healthy to do that.
Joke went way over your head
Steerike
Hopefully he regains his form if he’s able to fully heal. I imagine the Angels would need to add him to the 40 man this off-season to control his rights, right?
With that over 5 ERA, you know the Angels organization got excited and just had to sign the guy.
Gohara, Maitan, Juan Soto – I see you, Coppy. If they trade for Kolby Allard, someone alert Manfried.
Juan Soto? You sure about that?
He must have meant Livan Soto
Here we go. Why don’t the Angels just offer him a long term contract for lots of cash and then realize he’s a bust and trade him and Calhoun for another 1st baseman or catcher. Plus continue to pay him to play on another team where he’ll start playing way better than he did for us. Then at least there won’t be any payroll to get an ace or 2 quality pitchers. Further wasting Trouts time and abilities on perpetual losing teams. Hey kid! Welcome to the team of bad managerial decisions. You earned it!
he’s pre-arb, I think with a full 6 years of control remaining, no need to do anything like that. He’s going to cost them the minimum and *maybe* a 40 man spot, about as cheap of a flier as you can on a guy. Despite your cynicism , this is a very good signing for the Angels – he cost basically nothing, so any production is a net win, and if he’s able to recreate some of his former effectiveness, the Angels might’ve picked up a useful swing man or back of the rotation arm for free.
Maybe I’m jumping the gun here. He can’t play this season. Probably not next season. Didn’t play well last season. He’s 22 and already riddled with injuries. Yup! Looks like a great prospect to me. Here’s Arte trying to duct tape the Titanic in hopes it won’t sink.
So when a ship is sinking, your best solution is to do nothing?
No. You’re missing the point. When the ship is sinking you don’t start breaking the ship apart and float on debris. You go directly to the life boats. This ship has been sinking for a long time and the captain isn’t even using the radio to call mayday. He’s merely shouting from the bridge. I have nothing against this pitcher. I hope he does work out. Nothing would thrill me more. My point is over the years Arte and management have basically nickle and dimed this team on bad contracts. Players who had one break out season, but not much else. Or guys past their prime. It looks like they get a bunch of mediocre players who aren’t any better than the ones they are replacing just to show the fans that they tried. Instead of just keeping some of that cash to acquire some really good pitching. This team used to be built on pitching and defense. The pitching has been gone for a while, but at least last off season they had a surplus of 1st basemen. Just waiting till they trade Calhoun for some unproven prospect or a guy who had that great season 2 years ago and has done little since.
Angels have things weird thing where they pick of the braves leftovers
Very good signing. They need a couple arms in their rotation and their bullpen and they got a bullpen guy. May be hurt right now, but is going to be a good arm in the future.
Gohara is AN AMAZING PROSPECT with a lot of baggage. He is just 23. It took 26 days to find a minor League contract so He doesnt require a 40 man roster spot. No one is touching him in the Rule 5 Draft. Not with his health & lack of Success. He has weight issues, Injury issues, Work out/Nutrition issues, & according to some sources emotional issues. Idk if they know something I don’t or if that’s just listed cuz he lost his mother & didnt seem to have the mental aspect of his game under control.
He has a POWERFUL ARM & a Good secondary offering. He needs to be a fulltime Bullpen Pitcher. No more Starts. He is just 23 & not currently on a 40 man roster so you can afford to be patient with him & his injuries.
He will probably never be Felipe Vasquez, but he could be a low to Medium LEVERAGE Bullpen pitcher. Many pitchers add velocity in the Pen, but given his Durability & already having plenty of heat I’d advise him to take it easy. Try to focus more on control & less on the heat. I’d give him plenty of rest. If he needs a whole extra year of rest (I doubt it) Just give it to him. He really isnt costing you anything. Just a minor league salary.
He has hit 100mph. In 2017 he Averaged 96.9 & could sit at 97-97 AS A STARTER!!! However, if he winds up sitting 94-95 in the pen that’s fine. He has a wonderful Slider to go with It. Usually you dont lose Velocity in the Pen but He has missed a lot of time. He also should focus on his control. I’d rather him Control a mid 90s pitch than wildly throw a 100mph pitch. Compared to other young guys at that Velocity his Control wasnt awful. If not for his Injuries & life problems I think he could have worked on it & fixed it. Now, I dont know if that’ll ever happen. But still…what’s the risk?⁷ Nothing.
Many players dont really become effective until they are 25-30. Then they get screwed by the Arbitration system & provide cheap low risk production. That’s what could happen here. Thats a great reward for no risk. He was once a top Prospect…The Rangers were interested in him in a Potential Keone Kela or Jose Leclerc deal (If my memory is correct).
I cited some weight & workout issues earlier. At times He had reportedly been doing an AMAZING job working on his weight & Nutrition. At other times he Looked bad. Then His Father (who also coached him since he was 5) died in his arms. Shortly After that his mother got diagnosed with a heart disease. To top it off he has had to battle injuries. He had a 2.42 ERA as a Minor League Left Handed Starting pitcher in 2017 with 147 Ks. That’s the kind of guy you want in your farm system with no risk involved at all.
I thought I wrote long posts congrats you beat anything I have posted.
The talent is definitely there, as is the stuff. The only questions are work ethic and health.
Good no risk signing. The Angels will have a full offseason and spring training to determine if his shoulder will allow him to pitch again, if he can control his weight, and to work on developing his changeup.