The Los Angeles Angels have avoided arbitration with 8 of the 9 players that were arbitration-eligible for the 2020 season.
The players that they avoided arbitration with are pitchers Andrew Heaney, Cam Bedrosian, Dylan Bundy, Hansel Robles, Keynan Middleton, Noe Ramirez and hitters Max Stassi and Tommy La Stella.
LHP Andrew Heaney and the Angels settled at $4.3MM. Andrew Heaney is expected to play a huge role in the Angels/ starting rotation after a season in which he missed some time.
RHP Cam Bedrosian and the Angels settled at $2.8MM. Cam Bedrosian, is expected to be a reliable member of the bullpen and has thrown more than 60 innings in each of the past two seasons.
RHP Dylan Bundy and the Angels settled at $5MM. Dylan Bundy was acquired in early-December from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for 4 minor leaguers. Bundy is expected to provide the Angels with some innings as he has been very durable the last 3 seasons by starting 28 games or more.
RHP Hansel Robles and the Angels settled at $3.85MM. Hansel Robles, has been an excellent waiver claim by General Manager Billy Eppler in June 2018. Robles in his 2 seasons with the Angels has an ERA of 2.64 in 109 innings while saving 25 games. He is expected to be the closer for the Angels once again in 2020.
RHP Keynan Middleton and the Angels settled at $800,000. Keynan Middleton was the Angels closer at the beginning of the 2018 season before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Middleton came back late last season and only gave up 1 run in 7.1 innings pitched. He lost some of his velocity and if he gets that back the Angels will have another weapon in the bullpen to go along with Hansel Robles and RHP Ty Buttrey in the back-end of the bullpen.
Catcher Max Stassi and the Angels settled at $800,000. Max Stassi, is expected to platoon with newly-signed left-handed Catcher Jason Castro. Stassi was acquired from the Houston Astros at the 2019′ trade deadline and only appeared in 20 games with the Angels before undergoing Hip-surgery. He rates as one of the best pitch-framers in the game and could be a solid back-up for Castro.
RHP Noe Ramirez and the Angels settled at $900,000. Noe Ramirez is expected to be in the bullpen and provides some solid innings for the Angels.
INF Tommy La Stella and the Angels settled at $3.25MM. Tommy La Stella proved to be an incredible pick up for the Angels after acquiring him from the Chicago Cubs in November 2018. La Stella was an All-Star in his first season with the Angels after recording career-highs in nearly every category. He, unfortunately, didn’t get to play in the All-Star game after suffering a right-tibia fracture after fouling a ball off of his shin on July 2,2019.
The Angels are now scheduled to go to arbitration with a player for the first time since 2011′ with pitcher Jered Weaver. The Angels will now be holding their first arbitration hearing in nearly 10 years with OF Brian Goodwin.
The Angels filed at $1.85M and Brian Goodwin filed at $2.2M. Brian Goodwin is expected to be the everyday Right Fielder until top prospect OF Jo Adell is ready for big-league action.
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