The Rays have traded right-handed reliever Hunter Strickland to the Angels, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Tampa Bay will receive cash considerations or a player to be named later in return, per an announcement from the Angels.
The 32-year-old Strickland joined the Rays on a minor league contract over the winter, and he wound up holding his own during his short stint with the club after it promoted him in early April. Strickland bounced back from a rough two years divided among the Mariners, Nationals and Mets to log a meager 1.69 ERA (with a less spectacular 3.76 SIERA) across 16 innings and post a 24.2 percent strikeout rate against a 9.1 percent walk rate as a Ray.
Strickland will now return to California, where he spent the first five years of his career in San Francisco. Over 226 frames as a Giant from 2014-18, Strickland recorded a 2.91 ERA/3.80 SIERA with a 22.6 percent strikeout rate and an 8.4 percent walk rate. Production along those lines (or the type of numbers he put up as a Ray) would be welcome for the Angels, whose bullpen has struggled mightily during their 16-21 start. Angels relievers own both the majors’ fourth-worst ERA (5.32) and K-BB percentage (10.7).
justinwatry
Ok. Degrom better than Cole.
BrittinghamSports
You think so? Cole has had a better season.
MasterShake
An article about Hunter Strickland going to the Angels and this is what you reply with? No one outside of NY or ESPN cares.
kdub53
Meat wad get the money see?? Meat wad get the hunnies G..
Francys01
I don’t understand why the Rays traded Strickland when he was pitching well for them. But, the Rays know what they are doing. They are a smart organization.
kc38
This is interesting. A pretty valuable reliever so far
BrittinghamSports
Anyone want to take over a good fantasy team in an MLBTR commenters 20-team league?
deal1122
Possibly. How much $?
deal1122
@BrittinghamSports
Vizionaire
too late! angels are done!
LaFlamaBlanca
Geez such optimism from one of the smartest most respected fellows on this site. Especially when it comes to the Angels. Please oh Soo great one what other insights do you have? Please enlighten us all with your vast knowledge lolol.
Vizionaire
LaFlamaCabesa!
Ron Tingley
What’s your team?
bobtillman
Obviously either Trout or Ohtani is headed to Tampa Bay.
Monkey’s Uncle
Or both
StPeteStingRays
Definitely both and a boatload of cash!
Dorothy_Mantooth
This is a typical, ‘sell high’ deal for the Rays. While Strickland has been excellent so far this season, his last 3 seasons prior to this have been well below average. I’m guessing the Rays are starting to see some signs of regression so they dealt him while he’s still producing gaudy numbers. It will be interesting to see who they received in return. Knowing the Rays, they just traded for another integral piece of their team for 3-4 years, then they will churn him for the next guy.
Vizionaire
and the angels advertize him as a savior.
mp2891
I don’t see it that way at all. Rays are starting to have guys come off the IL and there won’t be room for everyone. Rays are doing a solid to Strickland by trading him to a team that will provide consistent playing time for him, plus he probably is happy getting back to CA. Good trade for everyone.
LordD99
Cash or a PTBNL. Usually it ends up being cash. We are talking the Rays here.
bobtillman
Yep. Gotta pay for Yoshi’s release.
Cult of Dickie Thon
It’s cash and a common move by the Rays.
Halo11Fan
He hasn’t been good since 2017. I’m sure he’ll turn everything around this year
This past offseason, you would have to be deaf, dumb and blind to not have understood this was going to be a problem for the current Angels.
If the Angels had an average bullpen they would have made the playoffs last year, and would likely be contenders this year.
They make the same mistake every year.
Ducky Buckin Fent
I am fresh out of bullpen analogies, @Halo11.
What I can say is Strickland looked pretty damn good against the Yanks. Does make me wonder why the Rays would move him? But he looked like he still had pretty Big Stuff.
& he detests losing.
Which is always a plus.
Ohtani-san
Was waiting for halo11 to come and tell us why this is a stupid move and he’s been right about everything since 1996 but somehow hasn’t quite landed that head coaching job.
jabronieramone
They’re selling him for cash. They won’t get a PTBNL
lamars
cash considerations
HalosHeavenJJ
Ok. We need the help.
balloonknots
The selling continues for Rays who want a stadium for free
geg42
No welfare for billionaires
Marshallx89
Guessing the rays are planning on activating someone off the DL and instead of trying to pass Strickland through waivers (where he’d certainly be picked up) they figure they might as well get something for him. Angels benefit from the Rays strong bullpen depth.
Bluemarlin528
I guess it would hard to be worse than what we already have.
DGHalos714
I like this…we need more good Angels trades or news. Now does he do long relief or more one inning and done?
Raysup247
one to two innings tops
CNichols
They should keep adding to the pen. San Diego has 4 relievers on the 10 day IL, once those guys start coming back they’re going to have roster issues. Maybe they could pick up another arm that SD can’t roster but who would help in Anaheim.
Sealbeach Comber
Adding Strickland (and his career average 0.5 WAR)? At probably a slight overpay? In mid May after we’re already 6.5 games out? Wooo hoooo! Eat our dust AL West!
A'sfaninUK
Please never ever use WAR on relievers. Ever. It wasn’t actually designed for them or extreme small sample-type players. ERA, while flawed in itself, is actually better for relievers, or my favorite: “clean inning” percentage.
Halo11Fan
Where do I find clean inning pct. I’m not sure I like that stat because I want RPs to pitch with men on base. I’d rather an RP pitch well with runners on base than with no runners on base
OK PLAY3R
I tend to look at WHIP and K/9 when it comes to relievers.
Halo11Fan
I like swinging strike rate. BB% and the ability to keep the ball in the park.
Sealbeach Comber
The Angels had many opportunities to upgrade the pitching staff over the last few off seasons. But, they stick with the business model of bringing in a slew of low risk/low reward guys and hoping the sheer volume will somehow produce an effective staff. It hasn’t.. And bringing in one so-so guy in mid May after we’ve fallen to 6.5 games out doesn’t really make up for that.
Halo11Fan
The stupidity in which this off-season was conducted is without comparison.
Never has there been so many RPs on the open market for so little.
Utter stupidity. What’s shocking to me is how few people seemed to notice.
raysdude7676
Rays selling high again. They need the cash after DFA’ing Yoshi. Would be cool if the PTBNL is solid, but probably unlikely.
alwaysgo4two
There’s usually a list of some A or AA players who the Rays will choose from later this year, based on performance this year.
Halo11Fan
Oh goodie. Address the issue after you’ve blown at least a half dozen games and add a substandard reject instead of taking your pick in the free agent market.
Sheer stupidity by this front office.
Anyone who knows the first thing about baseball and the Angels saw this coming.
Screw Perry the platypus.
Sideline Redwine
You must not be paying attention–Strickland has hardly been substandard this year.
Y’all aren’t vying for yr division this year anyway.
Halo11Fan
Sixteen innings does not a season make. He hasn’t been good since 2017.
champion1701
I do not miss Strickland in SF. Hopefully he doesn’t punch any doors or throw at MVP caliber player’s head. Strickland is a douchebag.
Texas Outlaw
The Ray’s don’t need the cash, it would be a drop in the bucket. They must have their eyes on a young player who isn’t quiet a prospect yet.
CNichols
The Rays are probably the team in the league that most needs the cash. The payroll they’re running is so low anything helps at that point
A'sfaninUK
OR Strickland is a nightmare teammate, like all the rumors about him have explicitly stated over the last decade or so. No surprise the dumpster Angels took him, they will take anyone.
And before you go off on “rumors” – funny how Rick Porcello is still unemployed, huh?
Vizionaire
good! angrl need a swift kick in the but! if it takes a cancer so be it!
Sideline Redwine
Must be other plans for the roster, needed a space. Dude has been great for the Rays.
A'sfaninUK
More proof he’s one of the biggest clubhouse cancers in MLB, a true contender like TBR was wise to move him.
Halo11Fan
If the Angels signed Petit this off-season they would be contenders. That’s what makes their off-season so damn stupid.
The people who run this team are idiots.
Sealbeach Comber
I don’t think adding any one or two arms would get us where we need to be. This staff needs a lot.
Halo11Fan
The Starting staff is capable. And I never blame an owner for not signing a starting pitcher to a 100 million dollar contract.
Addressing starting pitching HARD and Risky. Addressing bullpen, much easier and much less risky.
Flat out no excuse.
Sealbeach Comber
The starting staff has been middle-of-the-road. I don’t have faith that our rotation would take us far in the playoffs. Do you? We passed on many chances to upgrade. Maybe upgrading a rotation is harder to do and riskier than upgrading position players…..but if you don’t do it, you can’t compete.
Now, if you mean we have bigger problems than the rotation, then I agree with you….but we didn’t address those issues either.
lamars
That’s the problem the starting staff isn’t capable. Sure, it’s a capable staff if your in rebuild mode but not if your trying to win the division or make the playoffs. Besides Othani the Angels have a bunch of 3-5 pitcher and I can’t believe Othani was signed to be the ace of the staff. I will say Heaney and Canning are serviceable as young up and coming 4-5 starters but neither Bundy, Cobb or Quintana are capable as 1-3 starters. Especially for a team with playoff aspirations.
Halo11Fan
The staff isn’t capable? It’s ERA in May is 3.66, but it’s better than that because it includes the opener game where Guerra allowed three runs in 1 inning and doesn’t account Suarez 1 run in 4 innings.
If you throw in Suarez, it’s top 10 in ERA and IP for May. Including Suarez, the starters have three wins.
The Bullpen ERA is 7.25.
Do you guys follow this team? It doesn’t seem like it.
Sealbeach Comber
Halo11Fan: “Do you guys follow this team? It doesn’t seem like it.”
I’ve see you argue non-stop with others. Not really my thing.
If you think our rotation is capable of taking this team far in the playoffs…..let’s just say I disagree.
BuJoBi
@halo
16 innings does not a season make, whatever that meant lol. One month of a average era for a staff doesnt make it a good staff either. You are All over the place, trashing the staff, then defending it, you just like to argue. The angel rotation is garbage, it’s just a fact
Sealbeach Comber
It’s really fun to see Trout, Ohtani, Walsh, and Rendon (when healthy) make opposing pitchers sweat. And I’m sure Moreno loves it ($$$) when fans tune in to see the top of the order do it’s thing.
But it’s less fun to see our overall offense ranks 15th out of 30 teams……and our pitching ranks last or close to it….and we’re 6.5 games down in the cellar in Mid May.
stretch123
Everyone hating on the Rays and I’m confused why. They are coming off a World Series appearance so obviously they’re doing something right.
nickc-2
Prob just me but wish this was Pujols to the Rays ♂️
Rsox
With as well as Strickland has pitched for the Rays i have to believe that either someone is coming off the IL and the Rays chose to get something in return rather than nothing if he’s claimed off of waivers, or his personality is starting to show and the Rays cut bait before he punches a hole in the wall in the clubhouse
Angels & NL West
Angels need some new arms in the BP and can’t wait until the trade deadline so I applaud the move. I suspect Perry is exploring every opportunity to upgrade the BP.
Baseballer2021
Good thing the Angels don’t play the Phillies this year.
LAbaseball
Solid pickup for the Angels. Would have been even better if they had shipped out skipper Maddon
Sealbeach Comber
The team is an unbalanced mess:
1) Some fantastic hitters in Trout, Rendon, Walsh & Ohtani
2) Many below-average-to-poor hitters, that pull the overall offense down to 15th out of 30 teams.
3) A so=so rotation.
4) A dumpster dived BP that pulls the overall pitching staff down to last place out of 30 teams.
5) A sub replacement level prima donna that wouldn’t take a reduced role and had to be DFA’d.
You think that’s on Maddon? I think he’s one of the few reasons for optimism about this team.
ChangeNotAlwaysGood
It’s usually around this time of the year when I start to get a life again, because there’s no point being an Angels fan for the rest of the season…If you still have hope that this year’s Angels are gonna right the ship, then you probably also have hope that election will be overturned.
9-0 embarrassment at Fenway today.
Trash, Angels suck, go find a hobby for the summer..