The Angels added depth to their pitching staff Tuesday afternoon by acquiring right-handed middle reliever Matt Andriese from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for pitcher Jeremy Beasley. The Angels designated right-handed pitcher Luis Madero for assignment to make room for Andriese on the Los Angeles 40-man roster. Andriese provides the Angels with a veteran presence to their middle innings. He also has previous experience as a starting pitcher at the Major League level.
Andriese spent the entire 2019 season pitching out of the Diamondbacks’ bullpen where he registered a 5-5 record with a 4.71 ERA (107 ERA+) across 54 games. Andriese averaged 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings across his 70-plus innings in relief for the Diamondbacks in 2019. Andriese relies primarily on a 94 MPH four-seam fastball, change-up, and curve to get opposition hitter out. Last season was the first season Andriese pitched exclusively in relief, having started 49 of his first 113 MLB games in the first four seasons of his career with Tampa Bay and Arizona.
The 30-year-old Andriese is a native of Redlands and pitched for UC Riverside, being drafted in the third round of the 2011 draft by the San Diego Padres. Andriese was traded to Tampa Bay in 2014 and made his MLB debut the next year when he pitched well for the Rays in 25 games (eight starts) during his rookie season. Tampa Bay traded Andriese to Arizona at the trade deadline two years ago and he has been a solid contributor to their bullpen ever since. Andriese will return to his Southern California roots, providing the Angels with a veteran arm that can be used in middle innings or emergency start situations. Andriese has a career 24-30 record with 4.58 ERA across 167 games (49 starts).
Jeremy Beasley is a 24-year-old right-handed starter out of Clemson that rose quickly through the Angels system since being drafted in the 30th round of the 2017 draft. Beasley has pitched very well through Double-A but struggled in his first taste of the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. The pitching-rich Arizona Diamondbacks gain another quality young starter to add to their minor league arsenal.
Luis Madero was acquired at the July 2017 trade deadline from Arizona in exchange for reliever David Hernandez. Madero spent the majority of 2019 in Double-A Mobile’s starting rotation, making 19 starts for the Bay Bears. The Angels protected Madero from exposure to the Rule 5 draft last month so they will hope he clears waivers without being claimed by another team.
Angels This Week
Friday was the MLB deadline for arbitration-eligible Angels to submit their proposals to the club. Several Angels agreed to 2020 contracts prior to the deadline. Dylan Bundy ($5 million), Andrew Heaney ($4.3 million), Hansel Robles ($3.85 million), Tommy La Stella ($3.25 million), Cam Bedrosian ($2.8 million), Noe Ramirez ($900K), Keynan Middleton ($800K), and Max Stassi ($800K) all agreed to new contracts.
Brian Goodwin submitted numbers at the deadline without settling on an agreement. Goodwin and Angels still have until arbitration hearings next month to reach agreements.
The Angels officially completed the signing of catcher Jason Castro last Tuesday afternoon.
Adalberto Mejia, a pitcher, was designated for assignment and eventually released to make room for Castro on the 40-man roster.
Pitcher Jake Jewell was designated for assignment to make room for pitcher Kyle Keller last week. Jewell was claimed by the San Francisco Giants on Monday. Ironically, the Giants designated another former Angel in Zack Cozart to make room for Jewell on their 40-man roster.
Angels Down on the Farm Report
Jeremy Rhoades was signed by the Aguilas Cibaenas of the Dominican Winter League in late December as the club approached the playoffs. Rhoades is coming off his first full season at Triple-A in which he struggled with control in the very hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. Last season, Rhoades struck out 74 batters in 59 innings but also walked 35 and finished the year with a 7.02 ERA. After giving up three runs in his first post-season appearance for the Cibaenas on Dec. 29, Rhoades has allowed only one run in his past four games across three innings.
