Closer Raisel Iglesias will reject the Angels’ one-year, $18.4MM qualifying offer, tweets Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. He’s still free to negotiate with the Angels on a new contract, of course, but will continue to pursue a multi-year arrangement in free agency.
That Iglesias would reject the qualifying offer comes as no surprise. The 31-year-old righty (32 in January) is coming off arguably the best season of his career and is the clear top reliever on this year’s market. MLBTR projected Iglesias to secure a four-year pact worth $56MM on our recent ranking of the offseason’s top 50 free agents, and a strong three-year deal, at minimum, seems quite likely even with draft compensation now attached to the righty.
A look at virtually any relief pitching leaderboard will show Iglesias among the leaders in most key numbers. The former Reds stopper finished eighth among 144 qualified relievers with a 37.7% strikeout rate and also posted the ninth-best walk rate at 4.4%. Only two qualified relievers, Josh Hader and Liam Hendriks, topped Iglesias’ huge 33.3 K-BB%. Beyond that, Iglesias’ 20.6% swinging-strike rate trailed only Hader, and his 2.06 SIERA was second only to Hendriks. No reliever in baseball posted a better swinging-plus-called-strike rate than Iglesias’ 36.8% mark.
Statcast finds Igleisas similarly dominant, rating him in the 85th percentile or better in terms of hard-hit percentage, average exit velocity and expected opponents’ batting average, slugging percentage and wOBA.
In terms of more traditional numbers, Iglesias tied for the fourth-most saves in Major League Baseball at 34 and finished 23rd among relievers with 70 innings pitched. That’s due largely to the Halos using him as a one-inning option, but Iglesias showed during his time with Cincinnati that he’s plenty capable of recording four-, five- and six-out saves when needed. His 2.57 ERA ranked “only” 29th among 144 qualified relievers, but as evidenced by the aforementioned SIERA, most fielding-independent marks feel he was better than that baseline ERA.
Simply put, Iglesias is a workhorse reliever who misses bats and limits walks at levels that place him alongside elite names like Hader and Hendriks. He’s appeared in at least 65 games and tallied at least 67 innings in each of his four full seasons as a reliever, dating back to 2017. Iglesias had a pair of month-long stays on the injured list due to minor shoulder troubles back in 2015-16, when the Reds were still debating whether he fit best as a starter or reliever, but since moving to the ’pen full time, he’s had only a single 10-day stint on the IL for a minor biceps issue.
If there’s one flaw in Iglesias’ game, it’s the occasional home run. His average of 1.41 homers per nine frames this year was surely higher than the Angels would’ve hoped, but his minuscule walk rate and paltry .207 opponents’ batting average and .243 opponents’ OBP meant that the majority of those round-trippers came with the bases empty. It’s not exactly a career-long issue, either, as Iglesias yielded just one homer in 23 frames during the shortened 2020 season (0.39 HR/9) and has averaged a more manageable 1.10 homers per nine innings in his seven-year MLB career.
Iglesias is the only reliever on this year’s market to receive a qualifying offer, but he’s superior enough in terms of age, track record and strikeout-to-walk profile that it shouldn’t prove to be a major hindrance to his market. Kenley Jansen, Kendall Graveman and Corey Knebel are among the names in the next tier, but Iglesias should be a lock to score the biggest contract of any relief pitcher this offseason.
Photo courtesy of Imagn/USA Today Sports.
Extension to be announced soon 3/4yrs, 45-60mil.
3+1 @ $14-15m AAV is good.
I think you’re both way light. four years for $68m
No way. It won’t go over 4/60 at his age. He is the rare reliever that can pitch 2 innings at a time. I think he is very durable and I’d bet on him.
4/68 is okay too, beyond that is probably an overpay by some team.
The winning team always over pays for top talent by the fact that they paid more than other teams were willing to do. Either with more money, more years, or better terms.
I was originally thinking a fifth year option to add a $2m but out to kick the total deal to $70m. He’s getting paid. Kimbrel is inconsistent and is getting paid. I’d love to have two Iglesias players in Boston. I just don’t see Baez in A Sox uniform and would prefer the team spend on pitching. Iglesias as the closer and Big Mac as the starter. If Scherzer is willing to leave CA, it’s possible.
not always….Paying the most and overpaying are not the same things.
1) he could sign for 3/39, 4/52 (13m aav) and that could be considered a BARGAIN. (team friendly, hometown discount, etc)
2) he could sign for 3/54, 4/72 (18m aav) and that could be considered an OVERPAY..
Not winning a bidding war against Angels
Critical for the Angels to lock him in, just as important as the starters.
3/45?
If you read Keith Law’s article from today regarding how Arte views pitchers, it is highly doubtful that Arte will allow Minasian to sign any pitcher to a multi-year contract. The Angels will get a compensatory pick after the second round. This helps negate the lost second round pick from the Thor signing.
Is there another Keith Law article from today other than his opinion piece on The Athletic re: the Syndergaard signing? ‘Cause thats the only one I see and it has nothing to do with how Arte views pitchers.
On no planet is a multi-year deal for Iglesias just as important for the Angels as Starting Pitching.
Maybe not a multi year deal for him specifically, but a good closer is. You haven’t watched the Angels over the last few years if you don’t understand this.
Tigers
Nope
Eppler will lock him up.
Eppler himself is still yet to be locked up.
The Mets are the ones that should be locked up for hiring Eppler.
Only way to sort this out is Iglesias, Eppler, and Cohen locked up in a steel-caged match with Bobby V doing commentary.
And Jeff Wilpon the referee
Assuming Iglesias signs elsewhere, this should offset the draft pick penalty for signing Thor.
Doesn’t offset as the positioning won’t be the same but it will certainly help if they lose him.
How would it help if they lose him?
As the article mentions…He was a top 3 closer last year by many key metrics, Also one of the few Angels pitchers that actually performed at a high level and performed BETTER than with his previous team.
Reading is hard. Help offset the loss of draft pick from Syndergaard.
The Yankees are not in neep of him but all the more reason Cashman will hire him and overpay.
34 saves and the dude thinks he’s the next Mariano Rivera.
?
Nobody, not even Rasiel Iglesias, thinks he’s anything close to Mariano Rivera. While he may not top $18 million AAV, he definitley could secure a multi-year contract in the $12-$15 million range. That’s more valuable than a one year deal with a slightly higher AAV, then re-entering the market a year older and likely getting less years.
He’ll get a lot more than $12m. Not sure exactly what, but way more than $12m. Elite closers are hard to come by.
Well, $12-$15 million. Probably closer to $15 mil, but the general range seems to be accurate. MLBTR projected him to make $14 million.
Ik… he is literally so overated
Phillies will sign Iglesias to 4 years only for him to have a 5+ era in 2022.
no quality starter will sign with the Angels unless they have a closer
They may not sign with the the Angels if they don’t have a bullpen. Which in totality is much more important than a closer.
Don’t get me wrong, I like having that foundational piece, but what good is that foundational piece if there is no one to pitch the 6th, 7th, and 8th.
hahaha
Halo wont rest until Jansen, Graveman, Knebel, Melancon are all Angels RP.
or perhaps doesn’t believe the Angels can lockup Iglesias as closer AND add 1-2 RP for the 7th, 8th.
Why the hyperbole?
You give me the name of an RP and how much money you think he will cost and I’ll tell you if I think it money well spent.
I’m imagining 20 spent on the bullpen.
Pick any of the RP ranked 25-50 in the MLBTR list.
Yesterday you mentioned two, Melancon and Tepera, but as replacements not additions.
Even keeping Iglesias I think they can add a graveman, Kneble or similar RP.
For the price that I would be happy with Melancon and Tepera.
For how much money I suspect the Angels will spend, Graveman and Janson are out of their price range.
What happened to your comments yesterday about money is not an issue… Arte has the stadium and surrounding property blah blah blah.
Now money is an issue?
I’m saying I don’t expect the Angels to spend a lot on relief pitching.
Me, I’d spend more than I’m spending on Thor.
The Angels don’t spend on the pen.. they should.
You really don’t seem to understand my point of view.
So Thor is not a quality starter, you say?
He was…It’s possible he still is. Hope he dominates the ÅL!
Thor could put up 150ip, 2.50era 180K, be comeback POY, CY top 10, etc or he could be mediocre 4.8era, 60d IL and be a sad footnote in Angels 2022 baseball lore.
“finished 23rd among relievers with 70 innings pitched. That’s due largely to the Halos using him as a one-inning option”
Imagine being this objectively wrong about something and just posting it anyways. The ONLY reliever in the Angels pen who could get anyone out was Iglesias. He was 5 outs every time they had a lead. Complete failure if they dont lock him up
He had 70 innings in 65 appearances
Where in the world do you get “He was 5 outs every time they had a lead”
He got 5 or more outs exactly 6 times; again, out of 65 appearances
…as you said, Imagine being this objectively wrong about something and just posting it anyways lol
oooh wow got me guys… should i have said 4 outs? that number goes from 6 to 16. He was the only guy in the pen that was effective.
“He was the only guy in the pen that was effective.” …legit truth.
sue me for the exaggeration up top LOL but honestly the literal ONLY guy on the staff other than Ohtani that could get anyone out (well maybe Cobb when healthy.) thats it. Point being — a failure if not brought back
youre angry in a comment section about baseball. relax
exaggerating is one thing. calling out someone for being wrong when you are in fact, wrong, is completely different.
you sir are correct. probably should fact check before i comment. Thanks for not calling me a tool
5tool, I have a question. Who do you think are near locks to make the pen?
This is a completely different situation than last year when most of our pitchers were mediocre and they all had to make the roster.
I see only two guys in this pen that have to be on the opening day roster. And one may be our sixth starter.
Mayers and Barria. If they don’t make the team the Angels lose them.
Honestly that’s a loaded question since A LOT can happen between today and mid Feb. when pitchers report to ST, and even throughout ST to opening day.
Currently they have about 4-5 names I think will have RP roles in the pen come opening day.
Mayers
Barria
Quijada
Warren
—-
Junk – long relief/spot starter? or AA/AAA
Rodriguez IL – late 2022 maybe?
I’ve NEVER said the bullpen doesn’t need more help, I’m just of the opinion that in 2022/23 Iglesias is part of that bullpen. He was a closer we needed after 2020, he solved a glaring problem, he should be retained. He was paid 9m, partly by CIN, I don’t have a problem if they are paying the guy $14-17m Aav.
Winning teams, playoff teams…have solid closers and solid bullpens.
And solid starting rotations lol.
I meant today. I didn’t mean who might make it. I meant lock.
Quijada and Warren have options. Which means the Angels can add pitchers without worrying about losing them. It’s a completely different situation than last year. There is much more flexibility this year.
@Darkstar
Calls someone a tool while making himself sound like a complete tool. Well done. I expect no less from the man who sniffs his own farts!
First you say “Near lock…by opening day…” now you say “today…lock”
Two completely different things.
Like I said… loaded question and even you revised it after my reply. Lol
NOTHING today is a “lock” for opening day. Players could be signed, traded, waived, DFA’d etc.
Word games. Since this is today, who do you think is a lock to start the season the pen.
Nothing is a lock. Mayers could get traded, go on the DL, or convert to Mormon and go on a mission I. Europe. And the sun may not rise tomorrow.
But as it stands now, the only lock I see is Mayers.
I won’t make the mistake of asking for your opinion again. Lesson learned
EXACTLY! Nothing is a lock, as I said LOADED QUESTION to begin with.
My original reply stands. Same names…those 4 had solid enough seasons to warrant a role in 2022.
YOU only see one “lock”, I see four.
Oh my God…
I have a 15 year old who I hope grows out of his imbecilic arguing state. You obviously haven’t. It’s not worth it.
Life is too short to deal with people like you.
you can’t say objectively wrong and then claim he was 5 outs every time
Stupid Reds
What a disaster. The Reds played fairly well considering they played Suarez at SS and had no closer. With $8M for Iglesias, they could’ve easily have been a 90+ win team and in the playoffs. And just to add insult to injury, if he leaves, LAA will pick up a comp pick much more valuable than the guys they gave up.
The Angels only gave up Noe Ramirez to the Reds for Iglesias, and Ramirez was DFA’d soon after. Even if Cincinnati had kept Iglesias, no way they’d have extended him a QO. They just waived their 6.0 bWAR starter, Wade Miley, rather than pick up his $10M option.
Save the money and grab 4 quality RP’s. Kneble,Ottavinowould be a low budget closer
I like Melancon. But yes, by all means, bring in four.
Graveman,Kneble,&Ottavino could be inexpensive for a closer but all 3 have exp with pressure situations.
Graveman, Knebel and Ottovino won’t come as cheap as you think. The Angels need to strengthen the backend of the pen with a lefty or two and some high velocity righty.
No real surprise. If he can lock up at least $16M/yr over multiple years, which should be pretty easy, this is a win for him.
Good. The Angels have one pitcher locked into their bullpen. Take the money and add three RPs who are likely to be good. If two out of three are, that’s money we’ll spent. They can’t afford to tie up so much money on their closer when everyone else is so bad.
What good is a ninth inning guy if you can get to the 9th inning?
Sounds like a plan. Let’s say Iglesias signs elsewhere at 3/48 or 4/64 which puts him toward the top end on AAV projections. If you are Perry for a day, who would you sign with the $16 million/yr not spent on Iglesias? Of course, Guerra and Claudio are #s 1&2, but who after that?
I’d have to do more research, but I’ve always like Melancon.
Using MLBTR projections, some combination of Neris(7.5), Melacon(7.0) and Tepera(6.0) could be two of the options with $3 million’ish left for RP #3. Add Mayer and Bachman and the Angels have a good starting point for a BP.
I think the Angels need three pitchers who are likely to be successful.
What you have is two who are likely and two that have a chance to be.
Mayers needs to keep the ball in the park.
Andrew Chafin has been an under-the-radar, reliable lefty for quite a while. He would be an asset to any bullpen. I’m surprised to see he doesn’t turn 32 until next June. One of those likely-to-be-successful guys.
Loup would be a good pickup for the Angels; obviously as a reliever and not a closer
I hope the Halos pass on Melancon. I know he would probably be the closer if they don’t resign Iglacias. I see him more as a middle reliever and middle relievers are just too volatile and inconsistent to be dropping huge contracts on. I like 3 of the guys they have for this: Mayers, Warren, Quijada, Cishek (re-signed) I can see them adding 3 more but not for more than $5 -6 Mil. So in other words waiver pick ups and whatnot.
They need to bring him back AND add some like Graveman . If it happens as said with 2 of 3 being good, for a closer that means losing games while you sort out who is who. There is no guarantee on anybody but the odds are much better with him. Another thing with him is when needed he can give more than 1 inning and high stress situations, like bases loaded no outs. I think with him and a Graveman type and maybe 1 lesser arm is fine. The rest of the bullpen should have more options than last year. Mayers and Warren could be good and others serviceable.
I like Iglesias, but keep in mind a 4 yr deal would mean you’re paying this guy for his age 32 – 36 seasons. That’s a hard pass for me.
I’d prefer to see the Angels trade for a few relievers. FA closer / reliever contracts tend to be some of riskiest moves in recent history.
Good points, If they can get him for maybe 3 years would be best but if not take the gamble later to help the teams chances short term.
He’ll fit in well with Philadelphia.
would rather not give up a comp pick for a RP unless they are Pap-level consistent.
@DarkSide830 Agreed.
I wouldn’t sign a guy who just gave up 1.4HR/9 to go to Citizen’s Bank Park. I’d sign Melancon for the Phils
I find it strange that no one is talking about the draft pick today when everyone was talking about the draft pick when the Angels signed Thor.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think teams should covet getting picks for their free agents or fear losing a mid 40 pick when signing free agents.
I think this rejection was expected. He’s looking for more years and I would too. I’d like us to lock him up for three, maybe at 45m. I bet he would take a lower AAV for a longer term.
Sign or trade for another closer and keep the pick. Its a no brainer for the Halos.
Would you consider Corey Knebel too much of a risk? He pitched well for the Dodgers following the injury though he didn’t close. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of offers he gets. He turns 30 on November 26.
I’d sign Knebel and a guy like Melancon. They need more than one reliever and that’d give you 2 guys with closer potential.
Padres 3/45 with option for 4th year? Seems like a Preller type of splashy move.
The future of baseball doesn’t support “closers” at 14/4 or anywhere close to that. You think the Rays are interested in Iglesias?
The Angels and Iglesias 3 years at 46 million If not Angels have to look elsewhere Iglesias Will be age 35 After 3 years
Please Amp,thou I dig your general idea.Neris is a gas can.He’s constantly pitching his team into trouble.Dude has blown so many saves as a closer.Phily should of had 30 min more wins without him the last 3 yrs.That’s not even counting how many times he lost the closer role and screwing up the pens balance.Big No please
@lumber and lighting Neris was great in the 7th inning role last year. I agree that as a closer, he hasn’t been good. The Phillies CANNOT sign him as a closer, but they should bring Neris back as a late-inning guy.
I could see the dodgers being in on him if they can’t resign some of their pen.
Can someone help me with why the Reds dumped this guy for almost nothing in return from Angels? They got Noe Ramirez and promptly released him, and a prospect who doesn’t appear exciting.
I get there was some uncertainty on the market last December but it’s not like Iglesias was a terrible or especially unstable value with his year of control left. What was the story? Why was a very talented reliever shipped out for what looks like a nonsensical trade?
They needed to cut payroll, Brad Hand was ten million bucks and nobody claimed him, fans in the stands was far from a certainty, and the Reds didn’t think they had a competitive team.
Still a believer any reliever can close most games out – not allowing 2/3 runs in 1 inning isn’t a great skill. If the Angels are sticking to a budget, better to use it towards actual starters and another outfielder. Guaranteed to be good relievers available on 1-2 year deals that will do really well – the Ryan Tepera or Jake Mcgees – good orgs know how to find those guys.
Lol someone used the word “elite” to describe this guy! Heck numerous times he was bumped or almost lost his closing job already. Has one decent year and now we’re saying elite. Woof! Just because he’s the top reliever on the market doesn’t make him elite. He’s nuts rejecting imo. He may get his longer term for less money but things can happen rather quickly and that’s gone. The QO is guaranteed and this more safe for a mid 30’s pitcher nowadays.
Hi all. I am happy for him that he has found his groove because he really did not have it with the Reds all that much. I mean he was a quality pitcher but so many appearance with him was an adventure with fingers crossed. Having said that I wish the Reds had kept him now. We had no dedicated closer last year and we still don’t. I believe that when guys know their rolls it is better for them and for the team. They can feel comfortable. Anyway money crops into the equation and difficult or bad decisions need to be made.