Today, the Angels announced that they’ve selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Ryan Buchter. Right-hander Taylor Cole was designated for assignment in order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.
The news bodes well for Buchter, who now looks like a good bet to break camp with the Angels. The 33-year-old southpaw was inked to a minor league deal last month as a low-risk flier for the Halos bullpen. He’s been an effective relief option throughout his career, with an overall 4.01 FIP through 214 Major League innings.
Despite a pretty sharp 2.98 ERA, 2019 was probably Buchter’s worst year since becoming a full-time big-leaguer in 2016. He walked batters at a career-high rate and his effectiveness against right-handed batters waned. Still, for an Angels bullpen that previously lacked a left-handed option, Buchter is a sensible choice.
Cole’s stint on the Los Angeles 40-man will end after a frustrating 2019 season that saw the 30-year-old stumble to a 5.92 ERA. He was often deployed as a multi-inning reliever or opener, but has been squeezed out of that role with an abundance of righties in the Angels bullpen.
If Cole clears waivers, the Angels could assign him outright to the minor leagues, though in that case Cole could reject that assignment and opt for free agency because he has been outrighted before.
Not sure why this move has to be made today.
Had tickets for the Freeway Series tonight. Really wish this virus wasn’t rampant and I could enjoy tonight at the ballpark with my family.
Buchter probably had an opt-out so the Angels had to either add him to the roster or release him.
They did it because Cole had a bad year. They traded one bad lefty for a good lefty. Makes sense right.
Cole is right-handed, which is mentioned twice in this article, but carry on.
Did I ask?
Mad you got called out for being wrong?
He turned lefty in the comments lmao
Teams have to set their 40 man roster. It was in a article posted here earlier in the week
Brewers and Cubs were supposed to play a meaningless game tonight and its still getting me riled.
As a Dodgers fan this is where I would try to troll you. But as a fellow human being I’m with you brother. Today would’ve been a beautiful night for a ball game. Be safe be smart people. We’ll get through this one day at a time and sooner than later we’ll be having dumb arguments about why my team is better than yours or your team is better than mine.
It’s raining here in SoCal
I feel you HalosHeaven as I was supposed to go to spring training two days before it was all cancelled. Wish they’d play in empty stadiums but even that’s too dangerous at this point.
Was Butcher released by the A’s or did the Angels invite for spring? He’s been pretty solid and good lefty relievers are hard to come by.
I think the A’s let him go because they had concerns with the 3 batter minimum. Good pitcher from what I seen.
I made it to Spring Training the week before it was closed down.
smart move on both ends
Unsure why we would designate Cole of all people. His FIP is about 3.3 and he sits about 95. There are at least a few other pitchers I would’ve designated before him (Luke Bard, for one)
He gave up too many runs according to his ERA. That stat still counts.
Where has Connor Byrne gone? We are waiting impatiently for “How Delayed Season Impacts The Marlins”.
“How Delayed Season Impacts The Yankees
By Connor Byrne | March 20, 2020 at 9:54pm CDT
“MLBTR actually plans on writing one of these pieces for every team. Stay tuned.”
Right… we all know this site loves them some Yankee Rumors.
Just like last year you guys started a “series” on projections for players… they only talked about Judge, Gary Sanchez and Voit.
Stop taking yourself so seriously.
Pfft… Obviously we can’t take MLBTR seriously.
Connor doesn’t work on the weekends.
We do indeed have all 30 of those posts assigned and in the works.
But by all means, continue dreaming up MLBTR conspiracy theories. Need something to keep us entertained without baseball, after all.
No problem Steve. Just reminding you guys that there are more teams than just the Yankees.
Let’s see… 30 teams, one per week… yep, should be done by the time the season starts back up… at least you got the Yankees done first. What a coincidence. LOL
Hey. Go away.
“Arte can we stop and sign Cole?”
“We got Cole at home”
Cole at home:
lmao
Ithaca Legend! This guy sucks, but the Brewers could get him and he would become an ace. The Brewers right now are on place to win the World Series, add another arm like this guy, they would win the World Series in four games.
If you don’t believe me,
MARK MY WORDS!!!
trade woodruff for him? angels may even tack on some quarters!
No, we need the guy that they designated. Brewers win!
Cole will be remembered with Pena for the no hitter following the Skaggs passing
A truly incredible night.
I was thinking the same thing. You dont often see guys that were part of a no-hitter get released prior to the following season.
But obviously the Angel’s dont have your standard pitching staff and this certainly hasn’t been your standard Spring.
Reaction Halo Clowns!
HaloShane- You’re no Jim Rome
You dizzy Halo Clown how do you know…?
You don’t PERIOD
LOLZZZZZZZ!!!
Again: “Reaction Halo Clowns”!
Wanna have even more fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Guys, this is a team that lost 90 games last year. Let that sink in. 90 games. As a team!… Any one from last year who we let go deserves it. Stop holding onto trash. This is a fresh reboot year. We can’t be having you guys with ERAs over 5 on the big league roster. If someone else wants them be my guest. But other teams know how bad our pitching is and I guarantee you he passes waivers no problem.
do you know that the angels purposefully lost games to get the best possible first round picks knowing that they would lose second and third picks?
Good move. We have no room for pitchers with an ERA over 5.