The Angels could lose top starter Dylan Bundy to free agency next offseason, and the right-hander said Thursday (via Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com) that they have not engaged in discussions regarding an extension. Bundy is due to earn $8.325MM in 2021.
While the Angels haven’t had much luck in their rotation over the past few years, Bundy offered a rare outstanding performance for the team last season – his first campaign with the club. Bundy was the fourth overall pick of the Orioles in 2011 and someone who was regarded as a can’t-miss prospect in his younger days, but he couldn’t quite put it together in parts of five seasons as a member of the O’s, with whom he registered a 4.67 ERA/4.28 SIERA across 614 1/3 innings. Baltimore traded Bundy to the Angels in December 2019 for a handful of prospects.
The Angels’ playoff drought reached six years in Bundy’s first season with the club, but it certainly wasn’t his fault. The 28-year-old provided much-needed front-of-the-rotation production to the Halos with a 3.29 ERA/3.80 SIERA and above-average strikeout and walk rates of 27.0 percent and 6.4 percent, respectively, in 65 2/3 innings. If the Angels don’t extend Bundy before next winter, and if he comes close to last year’s numbers during the upcoming season, he should be one of the most coveted free agents on the market.
Come to the Rangers. You, Kershaw, Winn, Dunning, and Arihara would be a great rotation.
Bahahahahah
Lmao you think Kershaw is gonna sign in Texas…
Exactly what I was thinking. That’d be like Degrom with NYM
Here’s my thought… the Rangers are cutting a good chunk of payroll next off-season, they need an ace, and Kershaw’s wife said the other day that it is a hassle loading up to L.A for Kershaw’s games. They live in the DFW. Spend the money, get the ace, save the hassle. He’s my golden child of next off-season. I want him.
Do the same as we did with Ryan years back. Get fans excited, and get the guy.
Heard Pujols’ wife had final decision on going to California.
Cards never offered him a deal. It was between Angels & Marlins. It was a no-brainer. I used to work indirectly with Halos. DeeDee was a sweetheart. Albert not so much.
Keep dreaming. Kershaw will retire a dodger.
Cardinals offered him a ten year deal but was 40 million less than Angels. Albert didn’t want to leave St Louis. The wife insisted. I never heard your version.
No high profile free agent in their right mind is signing with the dumpster fire that is the Texas Rangers
Kershaw is not going to end his career with a rebuilding team.
Rangers29 were you even alive yet the last year Nolan Ryan pitched in 1993?
As i recall, the Cards only offered him 10/200M and the Marlins exceeded that. They were throwing stupid money around and promising their free agents they wouldnt hold their regular firesales, and the Angels were. The only other team that offered more than StL
Kershaw would retire before signing with a rebuilding team. I think retirement is a real possibility.
Cardinals offered Pujols 10/170 mil which he famously laughed at and was reported saying “I thought they were serious about keeping me” the whole thing left a bitter taste in the fans from St Louis mouth. They shouldn’t have been mad at Pujols, he deserved every dime, just not from the LA ANGLES where most fans don’t even value him, but see his contact as the reason Trout hasn’t gotten to play in the playoffs.
The Angels are the closest team to contention that doesnt have a starting rotation to get them there. They better extend Bundy and find other help if they hope to contend with Trout and Rendon as well as others.
I think he will too. He got his ring and his money. I think he wants to play in Texas
Texas would be the second choice no doubt, and they could offer a grandfather offer , and its home along with wifeys I believe –
Add in saving some big bucks on taxes w/ Shaw knowing how far those extra dollars will go in all the charities he does here and abroad you shouldn’t be “lmao”
The Ring in hand makes it easier as well today
Very realistic Kershaw is pitching for the Rangers next year on opening day
Couldn’t see him going to rangers. They suck, more like houston if he wants to win and be close to home.
No way kershaw goes to the Astros. They have too much bad blood for that to happen. He will definitely re-sign with the Dodgers.
Tatsu: COVID cut into their buzzer budget… probably won’t win again any time soon.
True but that division stinks
Angels bad
Rangers really bad
A’s mediocre
Astros decent
Even without trash cans that division is winnable
Kershaw values winning above all. He is not signing with a mediocre team that has zero future. Going home isn’t worth being eliminated by 4th of July.
Im not saying Kershaw doesn’t value winning, but he’s the rare bird who values humanity 100x more than this game-
If getting him and his wife home with an extra 50 mill to help with his charities is on the table better setting up Rd 2 for his life, I think he strongly considers it, not saying its a sure thing.
99% of the rest of MLB, I agree with your sentiments 100%
I don’t believe winning another ring, personal money other than to help his charities , or legacy are on his top 10 remaining bucket list
I just see the Dodgers simply deciding that Keyshaw isn’t what he once was and letting him go rather than give him Bauer money.
You make a compelling case, but regardless of where he plays he’ll have all the $$$ he’ll ever need to fund his/his wife’s charitable endeavors. I think the competitive athlete in him will want to retire just playing for one club and winning a few more championships while he’s at it.
Ultimately, he’ll be able to buy half of Highland Park when he finally retires, which is no small feat!.
It’s not that the Dodgers will just let him walk. He’s still a solid SP and they’ll offer him a short term contract at an AAV that they believe he will perform at for the next couple of years. But I’m sure he’ll be able to top it if he chooses to pitch elsewhere
You think the dodgers are going to let kershaw walk for Bauer? Are you high?
Just because lot of people are leaving LA fot Texas dont think for a second Kershaw will to lol. Hes either in dodger blue or his plaid pajamas.
I’d put odds now at 80/20 he resigns with the Dodgers. 20% Texas gets him. That’s not a small percentage actually. Kids getting into school is a big deal for any family…its not maybe the driving issue…but it could be for a family person, and Kershaw seems more family oriented than most. I’ll put the Texas odds at 20%
Sounds about right Dock….anyone comparing Kershaw to the normal dude needs a re-calibration
Incredible first month and tailed off a bit towards the end. I’d like to extend him. Replacing 4 pieces of the rotation next year doesn’t sound fun.
So many FA’s on the pitching staff after 2021. Bundy, Heaney, Quintana. They could head into Dec with only Canning as a viable SP depending on Ohtani’s health at pitcher. I’m not sold Bundy is a #1 guy but they can’t have so many holes hoping players will want to come to Anaheim (which seems to be a hard sell due to Moreno’s lack of tact regarding negotiations). They’re in a pickle.
Don’t forget about Cobb, he’s also a free agent. Canning and Ohtani will be their only returning starters for next year. Plus, they’re going to need a closer and a shortstop. You have to wonder what Perry’s plan will be.
Quintana and Cobb are nobodies. The Angels have better pitchers ready to step in. Heaney might be troubling. He’s got elite stuff and I think he’s going to learn how to pitch before it goes away. It might even be this year.
If you’re an Angel’s fan and you’re penciling Ohtani into your rotation I feel bad for you. That guy will never be a quality starting pitcher in MLB, NEVER. He’s made of glass and the Angels aren’t a smart enough organization to force him into an outfielder only role.
The SS market is insane next offseason, and they seem to not mind throwing money at exceptional position players and falling short in coming up with a TOR guy
Why? He had TJ surgery. This is about when players from TJ surgery come back. Since when is TJ surgery a death sentence? Who is going to get out when this team hands the game to the bullpen is much more troubling than a pitching who had TJ surgery 28 months ago.
That means that there’s is convo
I’d like to think he could be extended, but I think the fact that its only 65 frames at that level of prodcution, may cause the Angels to balk a little, and probably go the QO after this season (if its good) and try to work out a free agency deal from there route.
Maybe cause he sucks
No news is apparently news.
Arte Moreno is in the entertainment business and not the professional sports business. He wants to put fans in the seats and give them a good show; hence the Pujols, Trout, Rendon contracts. They provide offensive fireworks and that is entertainment in his mind. Ohtani is a Moreno ‘wet-dream’ too. International phenom who can hit HRs in between his starts on the mound; right up his alley. When it comes to re-signing Bundy, I think Moreno would rather sign Al Bundy or King Kong Bundy than Dylan Bundy.
I think you hit on some good points here. I’d say all MLB owners have outside baseball interests. To a few, their team is only a high-luxury toy and also an appreciating asset. They keep the team financially-solvent and allow the rest of the league to prop up revenue. PR firms are on their speed dials whenever they need to address the media.
Nailed it dude. Pitchers don’t put fans in the stands. He’ll never pay for one unless he gets a discount.
Here’s the thing. Pitchers do put fans in the stands. Because pitchers mean you are competitive
Arte hasn’t learned that lesson. But it’s true
Yep, nailed it. Well said.
Bundy had a great year for sure, but I thought it would be a great sell high opportunity for the Angels. He doesn’t have #1 or #2 stuff so as he ages I believe his numbers will get worse.
With Pujols contract coming off the books, I think the Angels can come away as a big spender in the next FA season, Bundy included.
Sign me to an extension first
The Angels and starters is like a oil and water.
On the positive side,
Negotiations between the Angels and
AL BUNDY
are moving right along !!
Angels will sign Kershaw and Arte will get his revenge for Greinke.
Sounds like an Arte Moreno move
So 2022 is shaping up to be Canning, Sandoval, Barria, Detmers and Suarez. And Ohtani and Rodriguez, if healthy. Am I missing anyone?
Thats a good young core of mid to back end SP. The Angels will be in business if they add a TOR FA and trade for a Marquez/Castillo equivalent.
I’m thinking they are going to use most of those pitchers you mentioned next season. Canning, Rodriguez, Barria, Ohtani (if he stays healthy this season), Detmers, and they will try to sign an ace this offseason. Suarez and Sandoval will probably get bumped into the bullpen.
Ohtani and Rodriguez have TOR upside, but staying healthy has been their biggest problem. Rodriguez may need more innings and to build up before he’s able to handle a full season in the majors. I don’t see Sandoval being more than a swing man. But I do agree they need to sign an established TOR arm like Scherzer next year and someone like Stroman or Thor.
Just few front line starters. Other than that you’ve got some nice innings eaters and a solid #2.
This team does not like starting pitching.
I mean, why would the Angels extend him after a 60 game season? If he’s having success during the upcoming season I bet they try to extend him, but an extension now seems rushed. At least let him make 20 starts for them first.
Yeah I agree… even if they believe his improvement is legit… its still only been 11 games that he’s looked like a #2 (maybe #1… maybe) starter. Before that he was really just an innings eater. I say wait and see how he starts the year then approach him about an extension. If he doesn’t want to negotiate mid-seaaon… they can always offer a QO at the end of the year too.
I hope for his sake he really has put it all together and continues to pitch at the level he did last season… but as far as the angels rushing to dole out a major multi year extension… I’m not sure I’m sold that they should be in a major rush to do that right away. Sure if he pitches like he did in 2020 he could wind up costing them more $ BUT… 11 games of 3.20 ERA ball doesn’t exactly prove that’s the pitcher he is now and he’s not going to revert back to the mid 4.50s of seasons prior. He definitely has the talent to maintain his 2020 numbers, and signing him now could save then money in the long run should he continue on that pace. I just think it’s also a significant risk to invest big money in a guy that until last season was really just an innings eater… even if I personally do believe he’s legitimately turned the corner… its still a big risk.
“The Angels could lose top starter Dylan Bundy”…
You just have to laugh (or cry, if you’re an Angels fan) reading a line like this.
It’s no surprise Bundy’s numbers were better away from the O’s. It’s hard to pitch when your team is behind all the time. He’s a better pitcher than his career numbers. If Angels wants him, now is the time.
That and the change of ball parks helped his run prevention a tick. I think he turned the corner on how to pitch to boot. I see no reason he couldn’t maintain a solid 3.50 ERA in a full season this year, give or take a little.
Too small a sample size to trust an extension.
My guess is Bundy will be extended by the break if his success continues.
The Angels rotation will be just fine, they should be middle of the pack there, without anyone over achieving. By chance they have a couple guys have standout years, they could be an above average staff. That said, you know their going to bring the lumber. Oh, and the Pen will be just fine, contrary to what some think.
I believe this team under achieved last year big time, in that short pandemic season. You might not think all the small upgrade, tinkering moves this off season might not be enough, but I do. They’ve weeded out most of the bad. What to do with Pujols thou? Hahaha.. This is a winning ball club. Just how much more wins than losses? Dunno, stay tuned, should be entertaining. 😉
Middle-of-the-pack perhaps, but only because AL rotations are dreadful. Most of the good pitching is in the NL. Almost all of the top pitchers save for Cole and Bieber.
Swing, you and I finally agree on something, the rotation is not this teams problem.
The obvious problem the Angels face going into 2021 is that they have $53M committed to 2 players whose offensive production will be doubtful or questionable. Pujols will be mercifully off the books after this year, but they’ll still be saddled with Upton next year. Tough to genuinely compete for a division title when you’ve got that kind of expensive dead wood in the lineup.
Solaris, yes and no. The biggest problem with the Angels is the pen. If any seven of the eight non-closers have mediocre seasons, they will have overachieved. In this market, that is 100% unacceptable.
As far as Upton, do you know what his line was the last month of the year? I don’t think he’s done, not by a long shot.
There is no way this guy will ever be coveted with his injury history. He insisted on a major league contract after he was drafted and was the last person to get one. Then he proceeded to have injury after injury every year. His lack of production in Baltimore had nothing to do with ability. He was constantly rehabbing and never developed a groove. The guy is made of glass.
He’s had one injury. You guys kill me.
Not only was Bundy a terrific pitcher last season, he also scored four touchdowns in one game.
SwingtheFNbat: “This is a winning ball club.”
Lol….not if you count being sub .500 for five straight seasons, or lack of a playoff win since 2009,
This off season has been more of the “low risk and low reward” bargain bin diving on the non PR moves that has created this unbalanced mess of a roster. Now we find out that, despite our pitching woes, the team has done nothing to secure our most effective SP from last season….which should surprise no one who has been paying attention.
The only “winning” going on here is Moreno’s net worth.
.
Dear Perry Minasian,
We need more arms! Its tough watching Oakland build a solid bullpen knowing we still need an 7th & 8th inning guy. Get to work.
Solaris:: “The obvious problem the Angels face going into 2021 is that they have $53M committed to 2 players whose offensive production will be doubtful or questionable”
Look at all the bad contracts that the Dodgers had to “eat” in order to turn their team around. Maybe the Angel’s market isn’t quite as big, but it is still a very big market that has drawn 3M+ fans every season since 2003. The Pujols contract paid for itself three or four times over before he even put on an Angels uniform. But now Moreno won’t spend a dime to end the debacle?
Lets make the “homegrown rotation for the last 25 years outta Ana….Imma need major help here !
Weaver
Lackey
?
?
?
Now lets look at Lad currently
Kershaw
Buehler
Urias
May
Gonzo
This is the drastic diff I see across the 405
Washburn was good.
Santana was pretty good.
You wouldn’t include Clevinger since he developed elsewhere.
And Richards isn’t too shabby and his story is far from over.
But who have the A’s developed since their big three? How many have Texas or the Astros or the Ms developed.
There isn’t a long list of teams that have developed starters over the last 20 years.
You do not need to develop aces to have a productive farm. It’s wonderful when you do, but Most teams pay for the true TOR arms. It’s teams who can fill 3/4/5 internally, productively and cheaply that then can spend the 25M+ on a true ace.
When was the last time the angels drafted a pitching heavy draft class? Without checking every draft I’m fairly confident saying most of their first rounders have been used on bats- or lost as compensation for signing hitters
It’s been multiple GMs+ managers. It’s gotta be Arte
The dodgers consistently pick 10-15 picks below the angels and still churn out pitching in spades compared to Anaheim. It’s not a coincidence
While making a ton of big $$$ signings, the Dodgers also were investing heavily in scouting, player development, coaching, etc. Then, the really smart thing they did was leave their young talent alone to develop instead of constantly trading them away for limited ceiling “win now” kinds of guys. Now that is paying off in spades for them…