The Angels announced today that they’ve acquired right-hander Austin Adams from the Indians in exchange for a player to be named later or cash. Fellow right-hander Deolis Guerra has been designated for assignment in order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.
Adams, 30, has seen action in the past three seasons with Cleveland and was particularly sharp in 2015 when he pitched to a 3.78 ERA with 6.2 K/9, 3.5 BB/9 and a 46.8 percent ground-ball rate. His numbers took a step back across the board in 2016, though, as Adams allowed an unsightly 20 earned runs on 27 hits and seven walks with 17 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings — a 9.82 ERA on the year. Overall, the former fifth-round pick has a career 6.29 ERA in 58 2/3 Major League innings.
On a more positive note, Adams has had plenty of success in Triple-A, where he’s spent parts of three seasons. In that time, he’s tossed 103 2/3 innings of relief, logging a 3.47 ERA with 9.5 K/9 against 2.8 BB/9. He’s also averaged better than 96 mph on his fastball in recent seasons. Adams will join an unsettled bullpen mix with the Halos, where Huston Street, Cam Bedrosian, J.C. Ramirez and Andrew Bailey seem like the only right-handers that have spots locked down at this time.
The 27-year-old Guerra had his first extended stint of success in the Majors in 2016, as he logged a 3.21 ERA with 6.1 K/9, 1.2 BB/9 and a 42.2 percent ground-ball rate in 53 1/3 innings with the Halos. Though he showed excellent control, Guerra averaged just over 90 mph on his fastball and didn’t miss many bats in 2016, neither of which helped his cause. His strike-throwing ability could certainly pique the interest of another club, but at this stage of the offseason, but teams have gravitated more and more toward power arms in their bullpens (as this trade/DFA demonstrates), which could allow the Halos to pass Guerra through waivers.
Deolis Guerra walked 1.2/9 over 53.1 innings while maintaining a 3.21 ERA– if he isn’t claimed I lose faith in the waiver system.
I think the Angels are better off with Guerra over Adams.
Do not understand this move Deolis Guerra had nice year with halos last year.
Agreed
Same thoughts here. Hopefully he clears
Adams is also out of options so I don’t get this move.
Wtf. Guerra was one of the top 3 in the angels pen.
If he goes unclaimed, I’ll be shocked.
Maybe Austin will find his groove on the west coast. Best of luck.
Wow I can’t believe The Tribe got something back for Adams. I figured we’d get nothing.
Weird roster move by the Angels. Guerra seems like a solid player.
Best of luck to both of them!
Could this be the first in a rash of MLB teams becoming concerned about foreign players going home for the winter and not being allowed to re-enter the country? #dumptrump
Guerra is from Venezuela and has a work visa. MLB players pay taxes like everyone else and are not paid under the table making them documented. The travel ban (which was just lifted) only encompassed the middle east.
You’re a stooge.
I’ll assume this comment was a joke
Lol, solid trolling
Of course it was a joke (probably not in the best of taste) but the intent was honest in wondering how quickly someone would hop in and try to rationalize or justify the absurdity of it all … And it only took a Phillies fan moments to do so
He’s not as bad as his Pirates numbers suggest (a couple of terrible outings), and probably not as good as his Angels numbers from last year, but still useful to somebody. He’ll get claimed most likely.
If Guerra gets claimed then this move is DUMB. Guerra was one of a few bright spots in a black hole of a bullpen.
Classic Angels move – getting older and worse at the same time.
Guerra did better in his brief time in MLB but his total career numbers aren’t very good at all. A 4.50 ERA is terrible, while Adams is just the opposite.
Did you read the same article I just did? It said Adams has a 6.29 era in the majors… and it’s not just a small sample size.
But he excelled in the minors and didn’t so well in the brief chances in the majors. Like I said the OPPOSITE of Guerra who for the vast majority of his pro career wasn’t very good. When you don’t excel in the minors yet alone dominate you can’t expect him to do well in the majors.
You seriously have me scratching my head here… Guerra has a career 3.99 era. He got roughed up in 15 innings in 2015. He was solid in his first full season last year. Granted, I’ve never seen Adams pitch, but his numbers are terrible. A 3.47 era in triple a doesn’t mean much when the big leaguers are tearing him apart.
It is a small sample size that made his ERA blow up. He got hit in his second stint of only 18.33 IP which took his numbers of 3.78 way up.
Again, I hope he proves me wrong. But I’m really hoping the 27 year old guy who threw a full season with a 3.21 era (and didn’t allow a whole lot of inherited runners to score) clears waivers. I would much rather have that guy in the angels bullpen than someone who is 30 years old and has yet to have success in the majors. I don’t know why you would make a roster move like that… but then again, I’m not in the business of making those decisions. My prediction is Guerra will get claimed and be a successful piece in another team’s bullpen and Adams will be optioned to AAA.
You’re right, a 3.99 ERA in only 70 MLB innings with a career 5.18 ERA in the 847.66 innings in the minors means he either lucked out in his short stint in the majors or he totally re-invented himself. Even if he somehow straightened himself out, a 3.99 ERA as a reliever sucks.
Haha. Dude. Adams is 30 years old… let’s face it, he’s a career minor leaguer. I hope he proves me wrong.