The Los Angeles Angels, on Tuesday night, made a move in free agency that should help a bit in their quest to bounce back in 2024. In need of some bullpen reinforcements after yet another disappointing season, the Angels signed veteran relief pitcher Luis Garcia to a one-year, $4.25 million deal, per Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register.
Garcia isn't exactly a needle-moving piece in the bullpen, as he is a 36-year old reliever who has posted a single-season high of 1.6 WAR (per Fangraphs) for his career. But given the dire state of affairs in the Angels bullpen, signing the veteran to a low-cost, low-risk deal is shrewd business, especially when he has been a reliable hand in middle relief over the past few seasons.
Over the past three years, Luis Garcia has posted a 3.62 ERA across 154 innings of work (in 159 appearances), while striking out 155 and walking 49. Garcia spent the 2021 season with the 90-win St. Louis Cardinals team that made the NL Wild Card game, while in 2022, he played for the San Diego Padres team that made it all the way to the 2022 NLCS.
Garcia, in particular, was helpful for the Padres in 2022, as he pitched 4.2 innings in relief, allowing just one run during that span while striking out five (against one walk). He should provide some composure for the Angels off the bullpen given his considerable experience in the big leagues.
This is not the first time that Garcia will be plying his trade for the Angels. Back in 2019, the veteran reliever had a bit of a down season in LA, pitching to the tune of a 4.35 ERA in 62 innings, which was his worst season as a big leaguer in terms of WAR (per Fangraphs).
The Angels still have bigger fish to fry in free agency, as there are plenty of other teams in hot pursuit of superstar dual threat Shohei Ohtani. However, their chances of keeping Ohtani will hinge on their other moves to convince the Japanese international that they do mean business when it comes to contending for a World Series title. The acquisition of Garcia should, at the very least, show that the Angels are willing to spend a bit to improve their relief corps.
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