The Angels announced the signing of reliever Luis García on a one-year contract. He’ll reportedly make $4.25MM.
An 11-year big league veteran, García is set for a second stint with the Halos. The right-hander spent the 2019 campaign in Orange County, turning in a 4.35 ERA across 64 appearances. That was amidst a difficult three-year run spanning 2018-20, but García has generally turned things around over the past couple seasons.
After pitching to a 3.24 ERA in 34 games with the Cardinals in 2021, the Dominican Republic native inked a two-year pact with the Padres. He had a strong first year at Petco Park, tossing 61 innings of 3.39 ERA ball while working in a high-leverage role. García’s second season wasn’t as impressive. His ERA jumped to 4.03 while his strikeout rate dropped from a quality 26.3% mark to a middling 19.9% clip. As his production tailed off, the Padres deployed him in mostly low-leverage situations.
Despite that dip, there are still a few clear positives for the Halos front office. García has an extended track record of keeping the ball on the ground. He has allowed fewer than one home run per nine innings in three straight seasons and racked up grounders at a massive 61.5% rate this year. Even as he enters his age-37 campaign, he’s still one of the harder throwers available. García’s sinker sat north of 97 MPH.
It’s the second grounder specialist whom the Halos have added this offseason. They signed left-hander Adam Kolarek to a $900K guarantee a few weeks ago. García also steps into the middle innings mix alongside younger, more volatile arms like Ben Joyce and José Soriano. The Halos still seem likely to look for a clearer setup option to bridge the gap to closer Carlos Estévez.
The signing brings the Angels’ 2024 payroll projection to roughly $156MM, as calculated by Roster Resource. They’re upwards of $50MM from last season’s Opening Day payroll and around $70MM shy of the luxury tax threshold.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today first reported the Angels and García were in agreement on a one-year, $4.25MM deal.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Why did he have to go to the Angels? I was so happy the Padres got rid of him. He is like one of those pitchers on MLB The Show that you light up on rookie mode.
Yeah, he didn’t pitch well in 2023. Good luck to him
You seem to hate they guy (even though you don’t know him), but seemingly cares where he chooses to play? Stick to playing video games.
@reynaldo- It’s pretty clear he cares where Garcia chose to play because he’s a fan of the team Garcia chose to play for.
Who peed in your cheerios?
This is how you build a bullpen. Lots of guys that have been successful before at low money and throw then against a wall and see who sticks. Cimber will have a bounce back season for sure .
He’s got great stuff
Good control?
He got $4 mil lol if he had great stuff and great control he wouldn’t be getting $4 mil….
Going into his age 37 season, he isn’t likely to be any better…
Well, it’s a start
COME ON! This was the one guy I REALLY wanted the Cards to bring back. I loved this guy.
Peace out, LG…I hope you earn your paycheck in 2024!
He was terrible the last time he was with the Angels. Guess they want a repete of his failures this year too. PLEASE sell this team Arte, for the love of God and the fans… You and your staff are a cancer to the organization.
“terrible”?
More like mediocre. If you want “terrible”, then refer to Aaron Loup, Ryan Tepera, Jimmy Herget, Tucker Davidson, Jesse Chavez, et al.
I don’t think Arte was the one who made the decision to sign him.
I think Arte makes every decision to sign anyone. Perry is just a puppet.
I think this is Perry for sure.
Arte makes every decision Do you think Perry can sign anybody without Arte . . No chance .
I’d say he’ll be an improvement over Tepera but o know how Angels signings go.
Or a downgrade from Reynaldo Lopez.
I would’ve been fine with Dominic Leone. I just hope he’s not replacing Moore.
I fear that Adam Kolarek was brought in to replace Matt Moore as the lefty reliever option.
Not too many lefties out there, after him maybe Chapman. Hopefully looking at a trade
Rejoice Pads fans!! Adios, Luis!
Average guy, average salary, throws about 65 inn/yr. I’ll take it.
he’s a solid middle inning reliever with 7th, 8th inning stuff. I swear I’d be an amazing pitcher if I had that guy’s stuff! always makes me wonder how guys like him struggle so much
absolutely but still. so frustrating that while I could hit a gnats ass I can’t break a plane of glass. if I had a genie in a bottle granting me just 1 wish it would be to add 25 mph to my “fastball”!
“Luis Garcia” is the “Will Smith” of Spanish baseball player names.
There is certainly no shortage of Luis Garcias in baseball.
This is going to be confusing in the AL West.
I think. Minasian knows less about how to build a bullpen than any GM in baseball.
It’s funny you say this, and I’m not saying you’re right or wrong, but I met a major scout who was responsible for Pujols going to the Dodgers– he specifically told me, “”I don’t think Minasian knows how to build a franchise.” Direct quote. He had no confidence in him whatsoever and even less in Moreno.
It was obvious the Angels should have platooned Pujols and Walsh. They both had superior splits. Dodgers were able to utilize Pujols, the Angels were not.
Minasian only helped build the best bullpen in the league in Atlanta that helped them win a World Series 3 years ago.
I’d love to hear why you don’t like Garcia…
Pros:
97 – 100 fastball w/ Movement
85 – 89 Slider w/ multiple variations
Gets lefties & righties out (pitches whole innings)
Veteran Experience
Historical success vs. best hitters in the league.
High k/rate
High GB/rate
Durable
One year contract
Cost = > $5m
Cons
Inconsistent (Most Bullpen Pitchers are)
Evaluation = Great Value signing
@Halo11Fan you don’t know the game.
Did he do it by adding soft tossing, contact guys.
More and more it has become obvious he didn’t have anything to do with it.
Every RP he adds provides more questions than answered.
Throw strikes, miss bats, keep the ball in the park. He doesn’t add those guys. And the one he added, he traded to Atlanta.
He is a good signing to be our 6th inning guy replacing Jimmy Herget. He throws hard and has a good ground-ball rate. The Angels will still add at least two more premium bullpen arms, but right now with Garcia, Estevez, Joyce and Soriano they have four hard throwers. The lefty they signed actually had good numbers at the end of last year, so that’s five solid arms in that pen. They still need to add a legit closer in my opinion and make Estevez the 8th inning and sometimes closer. If they don’t get Ohtani I expect them to go after Hader. He changes that bullpen drastically– and he’s a lefty. I could see the Angels signing Hader, Bellinger for the outfield. and starters Jeff Montgomery and Eduardo Rodriguez. Then a low cost signing of Tim Anderson to play second. Drury platoons at first and plays third. Rendon can’t play everyday– even if he’s healthy.
Schanuel
Tim Anderson
Trout
Bellinger
O’Hoppe,
Drury
Rendon
Ward
Neto
Counting on Rendon would be foolish. The Angels can say all they want but if they are really banking on Rendon they are worse than we think, and we think they are bad.
Jeimer Candelario is a guy I think would work well here. Plenty of experience at third and just enough at first to help shield Schanuel from lefties a bit.
JJ, let me rearrange what u have here so it plays better.
The Angels are “counting” on Rendon to be there 3b, but there not “banking” on him playing 140 games.
But yes, the Angels would be wise, and I think they will, add another solid 3b/DH type. Candelario would be a nice fit, but there are plenty of other fits as well. I don’t believe there’s a need for this player thou to have to be able to play 1st. Schanuel’s splits should be fine and we have Drury.
I was kinda hoping Chapman’s price tag would drop. That’s only money, and no prospects lost.
Manager: infield defensive guru.
2 bullpen pieces that get ground balls.
We’ve found the Angels plan for this year.
Good signing upgrading the overall bullpen. This guy replaces Herget in the 6th– and he’s a good bounceback candidate. He’s a big arm early in the game. The Angels need to add two more significant arms. I don’t think Estevez is their closer this year. They might sign Kimbrel or Chapman, but they need at least two more HIGH OCTANE arms they can count on.
Anderson – Davidson
Kolarek – loup
Garcia – tepera
TBD – Moore
Estevez
I guess it’s filling out. I’ll take a deep breath, and hope that’s not all of the bullpen additions.
I wish they would bring bring back Moore, but I know that’s not a reality.
Yeah let’s hope not & that the TBD is Moore again…
It’s looking like perry is going after shorter term deals with Kolarek, and garcia. Moore might be wanting something around what Lopez got.
Add RPs who miss bats, keep the ball in the park and throws strikes.
Most of our guys can’t do two of those things, let alone three. He’s added these types before and the almost never work out.
That’s why I’m hoping he gets another one that has a decent track record, and possibly two, Kolarek can be released fairly quick if he doesn’t work out. So far it’s about the same to last year, probably slightly worse, and we all know how that worked out.
@Halo11Fan Can you provide examples of the moves you’d make for these relief arms please versus speaking in generalities and just naming the characteristics of great bullpen arms?
in 2023, Luis Garcia had a 9% walk rate, 26% K rate, & 62% ground ball.
All hinting at his ability to be an above average big league performer in the areas you name: (Miss bats, Keep the ball in the park, Throw strikes). Perry got the deal at 1 yr. $4 million yet you sound mad about this signing. Don’t quite understand your contradicting perspective.
Not to mention Luis Garcia brings a great list of intangibles: Veteran presence/experience, Clubhouse presence, recent playoff experience, High leverage experience, can get both L/R out, can get best hitters in the league out.
Again, great value signing from Perry.
You’re either drunk or trolling… Or both. Luis Garcia is garbage that can’t lock down a bullpen spot for more than two years with any team. If he’s the superstar you make him out to be, explain that would ya? Late inning relives with ERAs over 4 are a dime a dozen.
Jose Soriano and Ben Joyce showed some promise last year. I think there’s another bullpen signing coming but at least one spot is reserved for a youngster with options.
Lay off the sauce Perry o’l boy…