If the Angels just had pitching... Wait, they do!
TEMPE, Ariz. — Archie Bradley played 51⁄2 seasons in Arizona, the final month of 2020 in Cincinnati and last year in Philadelphia, but the reliever has faced the Angels enough and followed them enough from afar to know their recent history all too well.
“From the outside looking in, you always wondered, ‘Man, if the Angels just had some pitching … ’ ” said Bradley, who signed a one-year, $3.75-million deal with the Angels in March. “I don’t mean that as any disrespect at all.
“I’ve been around a little bit and have a feel for how the game works, and that’s always been my thought coming into Anaheim: ‘All right, you’re gonna have to pitch well, but as long as we hit, we’re gonna be OK.’
“Pitching consistently, pitching deep into games and turning the game over to the bullpen are areas I felt they needed to address, and they’ve done that. You look at what they’ve added, and you really start to turn your head and get excited.”
Bradley was part of a $93-million bullpen splurge that netted closer Raisel Iglesias for four more years and $58 million, dominant left-hander Aaron Loup for two years and $17 million, and right-hander Ryan Tepera for two years and $14 million.
The group should be much deeper and more effective than last year’s relief corps, which ranked 24th in baseball with a 4.59 earned-run average, 25th in WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) and converted only 39 of 65 save opportunities.
“The bullpen is kind of taking shape with names in it,” Bradley said, “not just kind of question marks or hoping a guy steps up and performs.”
There are some big-name additions to the rotation as well, but those come with question marks.
Noah Syndergaard (one-year, $21 million) is returning from Tommy John surgery that limited him to two innings for the New York Mets the last two seasons. Michael Lorenzen (one year, $6.75 million) is transitioning to the rotation after six seasons as a Reds reliever.
But these are right-handers with high-octane stuff — Syndergaard’s fastball has averaged 97.6 mph and Lorenzen’s 95.5 — and a far greater chance to impact a rotation that for six years had tapped into such mostly cheaper, low-ceiling arms as Ricky Nolasco, Matt Harvey, Trevor Cahill, Julio Teherán and José Quintana.
“I faced them a lot in the National League, and neither is a comfortable at-bat,” Angels
third baseman Anthony Rendon said. “Syndergaard looks like a giant on the mound and throws 100 mph, and Lorenzen, you don’t know if he’s going to throw 90 mph or 100 mph because he has both in his repertoire.
“We got Loup in the bullpen and brought back Iggy to solidify that back end. I think if everyone stays healthy — obviously, knock on wood — and if we do what we’re capable of, we’ll make some noise.”
Ah, there’s that pesky conjunction that accompanies every Angels season preview. If the Angels stay healthy, and if their stars play up to expectations, and if everything goes right, they’ll contend for their first American League West title since 2014.
That would be a lot to ask of any team, but there are some encouraging signs.
Mike Trout, the three-time AL most valuable player, and Rendon appear healthy after missing most of last season because of injuries. Two-way star Shohei Ohtani, a unanimous choice for AL MVP last year, is primed for another big season. Jared Walsh has established himself as a 25-homer, 100-RBI threat.
Syndergaard, one of the most dominant starters from 2015 to 2018, and Lorenzen have looked sharp this spring. Young left-handers Patrick Sandoval and José Suarez solidified rotation spots last season. The bullpen should be vastly improved.
The Houston Astros, despite the loss of star shortstop Carlos Correa, still are favored to win their fifth division title in six years, and the Seattle Mariners bolstered a 90-win team by signing reigning AL Cy Young award winner Robbie Ray.
But with the postseason expanded from 10 to 12 teams — six in each league — the Angels have a good chance of ending their seven-year playoff drought. They’re hungry, eager to shed their label as underachievers, and their new pitchers have infused them with a little edge.
“I’m itching to get back out there, to showcase that I’m healthy and can compete,” Syndergaard said. “The goal for this year is to win at all costs.”