The Los Angeles Angels traded for right-handed reliever Raisel Iglesias and cash from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for reliever Noé Ramirez and a player to be named later. The deal was announced on Twitter.
Iglesias, 30, has been one of the best relievers in baseball since moving to the bullpen in 2016 with the Reds, notching a 2.85 ERA over 253 relief appearances and has consistently landed in the top 10 in the league among xERA, Hard Hit%, and xwOBA, according to Statcast.
In 2020, Iglesias pitched to a 2.74 ERA (1.84 FIP), 12.1 K/9, and 176 ERA+. He is entering the final year of a three-year, $24 million contract he signed with the Reds before the 2018 season and is due $9.125 million in the 2021 season, should all 162 games be played.
Ramirez is entering just his first year of arbitration and is projected to make $1.1 million this year. He had his best year relieving in 2020 with a 3.00 ERA (4.52 FIP), 1.14 WHIP, and 151 ERA+.
The Reds were able to get somewhat of a financial reprieve this year and get a reliever with more control than Iglesias had left. And vice versa for the Angels, they got a wonderful reliever for the year, though their starting rotation still needs to be addressed.
