ANAHEIM — The Angels have found their closer for the 2019 season, as they agreed to terms with right-hander Cody Allen late Thursday night, according to multiple reports.
The Angels, though, have not confirmed the agreement, as it is pending a physical, according to a report from MLB Network’s Ken Rosenthal.
ANAHEIM — The Angels have found their closer for the 2019 season, as they agreed to terms with right-hander Cody Allen late Thursday night, according to multiple reports.
The Angels, though, have not confirmed the agreement, as it is pending a physical, according to a report from MLB Network’s Ken Rosenthal.
Allen, 30, has extensive experience as a closer, serving in that capacity with the Indians from 2014-18 and racking up 147 saves for an average of 29 per year. He has a strong career ERA of 2.98 in 440 2/3 innings, but is coming off a down year, as he posted a 4.70 ERA in 70 appearances with Cleveland in 2018, including a career-high five blown saves.
Allen struck out 80 and walked 33 in 67 innings but served up 11 homers. He saw his fastball velocity dip from an average of 94.3 mph in ’17, when he had a 2.94 ERA, to 93.5 mph last year, per baseballsavant.com.
Allen’s worst ERA before last season was 3.72 as a rookie in ’12 — and he never had an ERA above 3.00 in any of his other five seasons — so the Angels will be hoping for a bounce-back year. He still has good stuff, as evidenced by his strikeout rate, but will need to limit homers.
With Allen expected to serve as closer, it means the Angels will move Ty Buttrey, Hansel Robles, Luis Garcia and Justin Anderson to setup roles. Other relievers in the mix include John Curtiss, Williams Jerez, Taylor Cole, Noe Ramirez, plus Keynan Middleton when he returns from Tommy John surgery mid-season.
Rhett Bollinger covers the Angels for MLB.com. He previously covered the Twins from 2011-18. Follow him on Twitter @RhettBollinger and Facebook.
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