Angels get bullpen help in trade with Reds

*Photo from Bleacher Report*

   The Los Angeles Angels have acquired RHP Raisel Iglesias from the Cincinnati Reds, according to an announcement by the Reds. Angels reliever Noe Ramirez and minor league INF Leonardo Rivas are going to the Reds in the return package. Both teams have confirmed the trade.

   Reds GM Nick Krall talked about the financial impact of the trade, saying that "It’s a move that helps us reallocate resources to be used on different things. That’s how we looked at this, everybody has got a budget that they adhere to, but this is not a sign that there is more to come. We’re just looking at everything as a one-off and trying to make the best decisions as they come up and do the best we can with allocating our payroll the best we can."

   Iglesias had a solid season for the Reds, serving mostly as the closer. Iglesias pitched to a 4-3 record with a 2.74 ERA with 23 innings pitched in 22 relief appearances, recording 8 saves in the process. In his career, Iglesias has a 18-32 record with a 3.15 ERA with 411 2/3 innings pitched in 274 career appearances, with 21 of those being starts.

   Krall talked about trying to replace Iglesias in the closer area and said of the current members of the Reds bullpen that "I think you look at a guy who hasn’t closed and say, ‘Well, can he close? Does he have the mentality? Even the best closers had to get an opportunity at some point. Michael(Lorenzen) saved some games in the past. Lucas(Sims) showed the ability to get outs in tough situations along with Amir(Garrett) last year. I think you just look at it and take it one game at a time with what you have. There’s still two months left in the offseason."

   Ramirez pitched to a 1-0 record in the Angels bullpen last year, with a 3.00 ERA in 21 relief appearances, throwing an even 21 innings in the process, striking out 14 hitters. Ramirez has a career 13-10 record with a 4.18 ERA and 211 innings pitched in 6 major league seasons, which he spent with the Boston Red Sox before he wound up with the Angels.

   Iglesias, who has spent his entire 6 year major league career with the Reds, joins a rather suspect Angels bullpen, highlighted by guys like Hansel Robles, who lost his closer job midway through the season, Ty Buttrey, Mike Mayers, and Felix Pena.