The Angels have interest in adding right-hander David Robertson to the back of their bullpen, per MLB.com’s Jon Morosi (Twitter link). As he points out, Angels general manager Billy Eppler is quite familiar with Robertson due to his time as an assistant GM with the Yankees. While Robertson’s reported preference is to pitch in the northeastern part of the country — he’s an Alabama native but now resides in Rhode Island — the Angels could give him the opportunity to pitch in the ninth inning, which could well appeal to the self-represented veteran.
Robertson, 33, has been among the game’s most consistent relievers since emerging as a regular more than a decade ago. He’s totaled at least 60 innings and 60 appearances per season dating back to 2010 and hasn’t been on the disabled list since 2014, when he missed the minimum amount of time due to a mild groin strain. It stands to reason that for a team that has had an overwhelming barrage of injuries throughout the pitching staff, Robertson’s durability and consistency would hold extra appeal.
The Angels have run through a carousel of closers in recent seasons. Blake Parker, Cam Bedrosian, Keynan Middleton, Bud Norris, Huston Street, Andrew Bailey, Fernando Salas and Joe Smith have all logged at least six saves in a single season since 2016, and the Halos haven’t had a consistent ninth-inning presence since Street’s 40-save showing in 2015. Of that bunch, only Middleton (recovering from Tommy John surgery) and Bedrosian remain with the organization. Adding Robertson to the mix would give the Angels a much more definitive option at the back end of the ’pen and allow in-house closing candidates like Ty Buttrey, Justin Anderson and Bedrosian to pitch in a setup capacity.
Eppler and his staff have already made a pair of additions to the rotation, bringing both Matt Harvey and Trevor Cahill on board last week. Those two signings pushed the Angels’ projected Opening Day payroll to around $163MM, which is more or less in line with the Opening Day payrolls authorized by owner Arte Moreno in each of the past three seasons. Adding Robertson, or virtually any other free agent of note, would push the Angels to a new record in terms of Opening Day payroll, although they finished out the 2016 and 2017 seasons with year-end payrolls in excess of $180MM following trade deadline additions.
angelsinthetroutfield
Don’t like the idea of spending big on a BP arm due to the volatility that comes with the job. On the flip side Robertson has been pretty steady over the years… Don’t think he’s ends up at the Big A
Yankeepatriot
Very few RP’s are consistent year in year out like Robertson has been. He’s had 9 years of success
Ejemp2006
Angel make bad old signs (Pujols, Hamilton, etc) Now must take risk signs in present to overcome bad past, to compete, bring us an October Trout.
Like Robertson, come fill big big big BP hole in Anaheim.
Yankeepatriot
Please cashman bring Robertson back !!!! v_v
capo78
Yankees still have openings in the bullpen. I havent heard anything about Yanks looking for BP arms. DRob has been one of my favorites and he is proven himself in big spots. Yanks would be foolish to let him sign elsewhere
wrigleywannabe
I wouldn’t mind him on the Cubs.I’d rather have him than Harper.
steelerbravenation
They would have to overpay to the point of it not even being worth it. His 1st choice is Northeast mainly Boston and they need a closer. Then Yankees & Mets both need bullpen arms. Add to the fact he is from the south and the Braves need a closer and the report the Dodgers were interested at some point. So in other words he won’t be an Angel
pinballwizard1969
Follow the money that will lead you to where Robertson will ultimately sign.
fasbal1
Robertson to Boston seems more likely, there is a need, and he wants to pitch in that region.
djpiglatin
How far do you guys think Boston is from NYC?
fasbal1
He says geography is important to him but typically $$$ trump all.
Ejemp2006
Robertson house night conversation now, “Honey, let’s keep kids in this school, we love stability.” Big offer night conversation, “millions and millions?!?! Yes, our family love there! We sign!”
Go to Angel, we hope sometimes. My Tigers not a compete so we just want good baseball, more good teams, and get us October Trout!
macstruts
I once had a baseball weekend where I flew into New York then Flew to Boston.
This was before 9-11, so it was really really close. After 9-11, it got a whole lot father apart.
SocraticGadfly
Well, Robertson would certainly be cheaper than Kimbrel, and if the Sawks sign him, I think that would mean they’re officially out on Craig.
Danny B.
If the Angels sign Robertson to be their Closer, he will undoubtedly be the 3rd Closer on my Fantasy team. I already have Roberto Osuna & Corey Knebel as keepers.
dugdog83
Besides Roberson’s family this is his biggest concern.
scarfish
Excellent.
HalosHeavenJJ
I don’t play fantasy but I’d have a hard time rooting for Osuna in any capacity.
Gordon Lightfoot
The Angels are a tired boxer throwing punches – no strategy. Free Mike Trout from this chaos, please.
angelsinthetroutfield
Shut up and sing sundown
fox471 Dave
Smile
SocraticGadfly
Or, he could sing, “The Wreck of the Arte Moreno.”
Yankeepatriot
#freethefish
prov356
The predictable “trade Trout” comment regardless of what the article is about. Pathetic.
Gordon Lightfoot
Imagine bringing up Trout in response to an Angels article – what was I thinking? “Trade Trout,” in quotation marks, no less, despite my saying “free Trout” – powerful writing style. If you’re going to feign indignation, at least get it right.
Matthew De Lorge
Agreed! Trout staying an Angel may be the biggest waste of talent in big league history. MLB could make a fortune off of Trout if he was in a bigger market. The Angels suck, and that will remain for the foreseeable future the way they are managing that team.
Trading Trout would hurt the Angels short term, but it’s the smart move at this point. Smart not only for baseball, but for the team, seeing the haul they would get for him could revitalize the franchise and allow a player like Ohtani see a winner in his time there.
williemaysfield
LA isn’t a big market?
costergaard2
They are in Anaheim in Orange County, not LA…
@%!&!
The Angels play just a few miles away from the 909…that’s almost Hemet! Hardly LA……
slider32
Every team in baseball had a revenue of over 213 million last year even the Rays, the Angels revenue was 8th at 338 according to Forbes. The Yanks were 1 at 619.
cakirby
Angel stadium is significantly closer to LA county than Hemet.
williemaysfield
Stadiums are 33 miles apart. The Angels are in the Greater Los Angeles area. Plenty of fans and businesses to attach to Trout.
Ohtani-san
The inland empire is 40 miles east. Clown comment
HalosHeavenJJ
LA is just such a tiny market. It’s anaz that other leagues have been able to market guys like Shaq and Kobe and Gretzky at all.
Vizionaire
no wonder l.a. has no nfl teams now.
sithdude
The Angels are not a small market. 2nd largest market after NY. Ignorance of people not understanding Southern California. More people are in the Angels “market” than exist in most states. Hemet is an example to back up a claim? It’s just over an hour to the stadium from there. I live in Temecula, season ticket holder, it is the same drive time. Driving an hour or two in SoCal is. I thing to us. My neighbors are Dodger season ticket holders and another is a Padre season ticket holder. So ya the second largest market in the United States is a small
Market, ignorance. 3 million fans in attendance for 16 straights years is small market? No other team but the Yankees have achieved that. 10% of the country’s population lives in California. If you were educated on Southern California you would know that the LA market includes LA, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties to make a few.
HaloShane
Gordon Lightfoot, as an Angels season ticket holder I’d have to agree with you. They have no direction. Angel clown’s don’t care for you post because the truth can hurt.
cookmeister 2
Then don’t go to games.
macstruts
They don’t care because he’s clueless.
EVERY TEAM in major league baseball who has lost 15/16 of it’s opening day starting rotation over the last three years to the DL has not direction. Most of those pitchers have lost more than half the season. .
That fact that this team can finish with a near 500 record amazing for those three years is amazing.. Few other teams could.
The only pitcher who wasn’t on the DL was Nolasco and he was out of baseball the next year.
People don’t like you because you know nothing about the game.
cakirby
Why do you have season tickets to a team you clearly hate?
Ohtani-san
Seriously, all this guy does is b*tch and moan.
southbeachbully
So is Mike Trout screaming “Give us free….give..us…free. GIVE US FREE”!!!
mlb version of Djimon Hounsou in Amistad (a very must-see movie btw).
Vizionaire
do it!
lonewolf
I’m not sure why the Braves aren’t in on Robertson.
tackett44
If I was a Braves fan, I would be disappointed in how they are always cheap when they have a window. They have been an exceptional franchise for awhile on scouting, but never pony up on free agents when it is time. I know they signed Donaldson, but they have the Payroll to do more and Donaldson comes off the books in one year. Corey Kluber trade makes too much sense for them, but like a lot of team’s they fall too in love with their own prospects. With a Kluber trade and Robertson sign I would have them high up on a WS possibility.
olereb
I’m a Braves fan and I am disappointed, I wanted 3 things CO, ace, and couple of relievers. We got Donaldson which is an upgrade if he performs but I was happy with Camargo. I think we are waiting for something to fall in our lap.
steelerbravenation
That’s the life of a fan of a team owned by a conglomerate like Liberty Media. They have absolutely no interest in the Braves other than whatever they provide for them in regards to tax relief or whatever it is. It makes me sick I long for the days of Ted Turner.
TeddyBallgameYazJimEd
Hell end up in Boston..2yrs for $23M with a $1M buyout of a 3rd year $12M option
pinballwizard1969
He’ll get 3 yrs guaranteed from some team and that’s where he’ll wind up.
williemaysfield
Yeah. I agree. Im thinking 3 for 39m
driftcat28 2
He’s a must get for NY. That bullpen needs his steady arm. It’d be a shame if he goes elsewhere. That being said I think Boston gets him
southpaw2153
Robertson has been overused by the Yanks the past 2 years. He was completely out of gas in the 2017 ALCS against Houston. Although I believe he has some good baseball left, I wouldn’t pay $12 – 13 million per year for it. If the Yanks don’t re-sign him, I wouldn’t be upset. I’d rather have Britton back.
Matthew De Lorge
I echo this exactly. Britton has less wear on his arm and is left handed. Robertson was used a lot the past two seasons and started having arm issues late last year. Bringing him back at 33 isn’t a huge priority for me, but neither is Ottavino.
I would like Britton and maybe Brad Brach or Adam Warren and be done with it.
JJB
He can just buy another house in Orange County and have a “home” in both places. Problem solved.
tackett44
Moreno got burnt on Pujols and Hamilton and seems to have been gun shy since. I would like to see Mike Trout stay with the Angels, but not if Moreno is going to be cheap now. They need to sign Keuchel and another Gio, Miley, Hellickson type. See where that goes and can always trade for a closer if things are going right.
Vizionaire
moreno got extra cool billion dollars just for signing pujols. and most of it is in his pocket.
cakirby
Keuchel is starting to get past his prime and wants a 5 year deal. If that doesn’t scream “bad deal” like Pujols and Hamilton, I don’t know what does.
tackett44
Keuchel is a ground ball pitcher which should play better in old age. I would not give 5, but I would give 4 at around 80. I hope the Reds can swing it.
Psychguy
Angels to overspend for free agents to get them here. They should trade Trout to try and re-energize this moribund franchise. That Puljos contract quite an albatross. That said Eppler has done a nice job given the constraints.
arc89
Angels are like a 60 y o woman having another face lift thinking it will make her young. Sorry to many wrinkles to cover up.
JayRyder
Angels sign Robertson to a big contract, tail end of his career. He goes down. They owe him big money… It’s a risk. If for Two Years, I’d Do It. Any more. . . Maybe trouble……. 2/26 including all incentives. And He’s the Closer……. I only say 26 mil because Angels need to pay in order to get pitchers… i.e. Harvey…….
goldenmisfit
Robertson has no desire to pitch on the West Coast. As someone who used to live in the New York area and now lives out west I cannot imagine why.
steelerbravenation
His wife and her family are from NE she calls the shots
TeddyBallgameYazJimEd
BTW..They live about 1 1/2 hrs drive from Fenway. Just sayin
Psychguy
Yeah… the weather’s so much better there.
Dagoat
Weather only….and don’t you miss the snow. All the rain the bay area had would have been gorgeous snow instead of depressing sogginess. Plus watching the earth come to life in the spring in the northeast, and anywhere with a real winter, is invigorating.
imindless
“TrAdE tRoUt”
LosAngelesAngelesAngelesAngels
The Angels should get at least one big name in the pen. I’m fine if it’s Robertson!
bernbabybern
As long as it’s not the Red Sox.
GrandpaBaseball
Robertson is a good choice if they can fit in the budget. Making a trade for an of/3b say for our right fielder and Bedrock would help. Trout will lead us to the WS very soon.
ryanw-2
I’m think with the luxury tax going up to $207 million, the Angels will push their payroll a bit higher while still leaving a cushion for in-season acquisitions if they’re competing.
slider32
Forbes had all teams making over 206 in revenue last year.
macstruts
There is a lot more to operating cost than payroll.
macstruts
The Angels need bullpen help. He’s the most reliable of the at the cost. So Yes.. Tell him he’s the closer and lock him up.for three years 30 million.
Dagoat
He isnt going to the angels.
Im pretty sure he knows what he wants and thst it is achievable.
Guy has had a great career.
He stated what he wants.
macstruts
I never know where a player is going. to go. I’m just saying for 3 years and 30 million dollars, that’s a good move for the Angels.
kdub53
Get him halos!