Angels sign LHP Darren Oliver

by Neo8234 on Dec 11, 2006 12:01 PM PST

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2694164

Free-agent reliever Darren Oliver has reached preliminary agreement with the Los Angeles Angels on a one-year contract with an option for 2008, a baseball source told ESPN.com.

Darren Oliver
Relief Pitcher
New York Mets

Profile
2006 SEASON STATISTICS
GM W L BB K ERA
45 4 1 21 60 3.44

It's believed the total package could be worth $3.5 million if the option year vests.

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Comments

I guess the front office wants another LOOGY

let's hope he doesn't end up like the last one we had (who is still unemployed, if I'm not mistaken).

Light Up That Halo! ...and tell Clutch to chill!

by cardinalwraith on Dec 11, 2006 11:55 AM PST reply actions

Well

It seems like we got him at least a little bit cheaper than JC. Combined deal w/ option year would be 3.5 mil, i would assume that means between 1.5 & 2 for this season

by Neo8234 on Dec 11, 2006 11:57 AM PST up reply actions

Well...

For mop-up and left handed relief, sounds good to me. Just wish Stoneman could remmber that our #1 goal was to imrove the offense. Offense Bill, offense.

Peanuts...Get your Overpriced Peanuts!

by Angel Hawker on Dec 11, 2006 11:55 AM PST reply actions

I'll bite.

It is possible that signing pitching could facilitate trading for offense.

(However, this does not presuppose any value assessment of said LHP on my behalf.)

by Bilko 420 on Dec 11, 2006 12:06 PM PST up reply actions

the most impressive thing I found was that he held left handed hitters to a .208 BAA. His post-All Star break numbers were terrible: 5.58 ERA, .290 BAA. August and September were terrible for him too.

Peanuts...Get your Overpriced Peanuts!

by Angel Hawker on Dec 11, 2006 12:10 PM PST up reply actions

Trading WHAT pitching?

The most valuable commodity the Angels have to trade is starting pitching, and the FO has repeatedly said they're not interested. I agree with that.

Fire Mickey Hatcher. An entire generation of Angels offense depends upon it.

by scareduck on Dec 11, 2006 1:14 PM PST up reply actions

Not gonna bite.

Hey, scareduck, good to hear from you -- and thanks for the kind words. My comment was meant merely to suggest the possibility of a trade involving pitching for offense could potentially exist. Maybe they're not done acquiring pitching?

Also, it's awesome you're in agreement with the FO, however, I'm wondering what else they could possibly say? "As you know, the most valuable commodity we have to trade is our starting pitching -- and we're very interested in doing this"?

I kinda think back to that Arte Moreno LA Times duck-eating interview where he says "We think we're one player away," and regarding the free agent market: "It's like shopping on Dec. 24; it's pretty picked over."

This suggests to me the possibility of a trade.

by Bilko 420 on Dec 11, 2006 2:31 PM PST up reply actions

But

I don't see how you can read it that way given Stoneman's predilections and past behavior. Don't forget, Arte also considered his earlier prediction a mistake in that same interview. The Angels may not be "done" as far as team construction for this offseason, but I'd be willing to bet cash money that there won't be any impact players added to the roster from now until the start of the regular season.

Fire Mickey Hatcher. An entire generation of Angels offense depends upon it.

by scareduck on Dec 11, 2006 5:44 PM PST up reply actions

Wait a second, scareduck...

I think I see your point. You were asking in essence, "What does Darren Oliver have to do with the price of beans in China?"

by Bilko 420 on Dec 11, 2006 5:02 PM PST up reply actions

As that great baseball mind...

Lloyd Bentsen once said, "Senator Oliver, I served with Scot Shields, I knew Scot Shields, Scot Shields was a friend of mine. Senator, you are no Scot Shields."

by Bilko 420 on Dec 11, 2006 5:35 PM PST up reply actions

Yes, exactly

Fire Mickey Hatcher. An entire generation of Angels offense depends upon it.

by scareduck on Dec 11, 2006 5:44 PM PST up reply actions

Ooh Boy

That lifetime ERA hovering around 5 looks real swell.

Does it say whether this is a guaranteed deal?

If so, there are some implications and questions. First, the Angels need to move someone off the 40-man to make room. Second, if Colon is healthy enough to start the season (questionable), there are only one or two spots open on the ML pitching staff, depending on whether the team carries eleven or twelve pitchers. This pretty much means that the Angels are not counting on Bootcheck, Bulger, Jones, Moseley, or Resop to make the roster. Unless, of course, someone's going to be traded.

by jjackflash on Dec 11, 2006 12:00 PM PST reply actions

This could mean a couple of things

Colon rehab is not going well, cause otherwise, I would think Saunders could go to the pen and be the loogy/long man.
We carry 12 pitchers, including Colon and it's solid, really solid.
We are setting up for a trade.

All of these scenarios basically mean that the guys above, Bootcheck, Bulger, Jones, Moseley, or Resop, ain't sniffing the bigs until the end of 07 and even Saunders might be stuck in AAA.

by LosAngel on Dec 11, 2006 4:43 PM PST up reply actions

Look a little closer, though

Oliver spent his entire career until last year pitching out of the rotation. As a full-time reliever for the first time with the Mets, he increased his strikeout rate by a point or so, and improved his groundball rate by 50%. There's some reason to think his 2006 improvement will follow him to the AL (though maybe his numbers won't be quite as good as last year).

Fire Mickey Hatcher. An entire generation of Angels offense depends upon it.

by scareduck on Dec 11, 2006 5:48 PM PST up reply actions

I think it's a great sign...

Our bullpen is disgusting, made for the playoffs....We just need to get there.

by Barry on Dec 11, 2006 12:02 PM PST reply actions

Agreed

In today's market, you just can't complain about a one-year deal with an option totalling $3.5M for anybody, let alone a LHP that has a realistic shot of improving our club. This is a solid acquisition.

by DChalofan on Dec 11, 2006 12:23 PM PST up reply actions

Agreed

I second that. This is a reasonable contract and I can't imagine him being more detrimental than JC with possibility of even being a positive veteran influence on other bullpen members.

by agermer on Dec 11, 2006 12:33 PM PST up reply actions

I like the signing

Low risk, high reward bullpen arm. I watched him pitch with the Mets alot this year, and he ate up lefties. There isn't a ton of money involved, and it bolsters the bullpen once more, making it much easier to absorb a trade. Good move.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Dec 11, 2006 12:35 PM PST reply actions

Maybe they dump Donnelly tomorrow

by Rev Halofan on Dec 11, 2006 1:03 PM PST reply actions

Why?

If they are going to dump someone, have it be Bootcheck. He's had his chances and just hasn't made the most of them.

Donnelly is still a good pitcher and we could at least get something for him in trade.

by akathelorax @ Halos Heaven on Dec 11, 2006 1:28 PM PST up reply actions

Were you watching the last game?

Donnelly = Cancer

He complained all season about his playing time, then got extremely pissy in the last innings of our final 2006 game. Doesn't bode well for the future. Keep him if he's still effective, sure, but it's probably best to dump him if we can afford it.

Light Up That Halo!

by Clutch on Dec 11, 2006 1:39 PM PST up reply actions

IRONICALLY

Brendan Donnelly IS A CANCER - born under the zodiac sign of the crab!

by Rev Halofan on Dec 11, 2006 1:47 PM PST up reply actions

I was at the last game

While I did think it was an asshole move on Donnelly's part, I'm not sure he meant it that way. I think he was just being non chalant with a rookie catcher and wasn't trying to be a jerk.

Anyway, Donnelly would have some trade value. All I'm saying is that he shouldn't be released outright. If we want to trade him for prospects, fine.

by akathelorax @ Halos Heaven on Dec 11, 2006 1:50 PM PST up reply actions

Donnelly

I don't like using Donnelly in key situations, but now we (presumably) don't have to. He also has been effective against lefties.

I kind of like the look of a bullpen that includes Frankie, Shields, Speier, Donnelly, Oliver, and Carrasco. Not too shabby.

by DChalofan on Dec 11, 2006 1:32 PM PST up reply actions

Donnelly gets new contract

LA Times reporting this morning that the Angels will tender Donnelly a new contract today. Looks like our bullpen is set, with Resop potentially stepping in if someone is traded or injured.

by DChalofan on Dec 12, 2006 6:02 AM PST up reply actions

fuck it...let's stockpile the arms.

20 man bullpen.

5 guys in the field.

let's try it.

SPORTS UNFILTERED

by pedro guerrero on Dec 11, 2006 1:10 PM PST reply actions

Keep Donnelly

If he's relegated to mop up duty and spot setup appearances, then we have the best mop up guy in all of ML baseball.

DarkAngel hath spoken....

by darkangel01 on Dec 11, 2006 4:16 PM PST reply actions

Speaking of Oliver,

this signing has got to get a higher grade than a B-, Rev. I'd say a B maybe, since this is a move whose grade depends more on the outcome than, say, the Speier signing since Just-dude is a bit more proven as a reliever.

This is even more compelling when you consider the absolute novelty of the relatively low price and one-year length (without the option).

Light Up That Halo! ...and tell Clutch to chill!

by cardinalwraith on Dec 11, 2006 5:42 PM PST reply actions

Any Grade

can always go up ... and it can always go down, too.........

by Rev Halofan on Dec 11, 2006 6:23 PM PST up reply actions

Apparently Stoneman's philosophy

this offseason is to only sign players whose Dads were big leaguers too.

Could trades for LaRoche, Griffey, Boone and Cruz be next???

DarkAngel hath spoken....

by darkangel01 on Dec 11, 2006 5:51 PM PST reply actions

Good signing

Our bullpen is looking pretty strong.

by NPCody on Dec 11, 2006 6:01 PM PST reply actions

I like it

Hope it works out as well as the last 36 year old former starter Stoneman brought into the bullpen - Hector Carrasco.

by RallyMonkey5 on Dec 11, 2006 7:34 PM PST reply actions

That's probably

What they're banking on.

Light Up That Halo!

by Clutch on Dec 11, 2006 8:14 PM PST up reply actions

Interesting comparison versus Kevin Gregg

Extend to view the three pages of statistics. Note IP, GO/AO, NP, BB, WHIP. On paper, it looks like improvement.

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/stats/sortable_player_stats.jsp?statType=2&c_id=mlb&readBoxes= true&venueID=&timeSubFrame=2006&baseballScope=mlb&teamPosCode=all&timeFrame=1&am p;section2=4&sitSplit=&prevPage2=4&compare.y=6&subScope=pos&sortByStat=IP&co mpare.x=&box1=XXXX119984nynX&box2=XXXX276514anaX&statSet2=1

by wumbug on Dec 12, 2006 3:31 AM PST reply actions

For you entertainment,

Peruse these stats:

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/stats/sortable_player_stats.jsp?statType=2&c_id=mlb&isCompare= true&venueID=&statSet2=1&box5=XXXX133221torX&box6=XXXX276912XXXX&baseballScope=m lb&teamPosCode=all&compare.x=&timeFrame=1&section2=4&box4=XXXX407791anaX&sit Split=&checkBoxTotal=0&box2=XXXX119984nynX&subScope=pos&box1=XXXX112031anaX&time SubFrame=2006&compare.x=&sortByStat=SVO&

...and then, this:

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/stats/sortable_player_stats.jsp?teamPosCode=all&statType=2&tim eFrame=1&c_id=mlb&readBoxes=true&section2=1&sitSplit=&venueID=&timeSubFrame= 2006&prevPage2=1&compare.y=6&subScope=pos&baseballScope=mlb&sortByStat=SV&co mpare.x=&box1=XXXX408061anaX&statSet2=1

When did you say the season starts?

by wumbug on Dec 12, 2006 4:25 AM PST up reply actions

Well, At Least The Angels Lead The League In...

...signing players who have been released multiple times to new and improved contracts.

7/2/02- released by Red Sox
8/13/02- released by Cardinals
3/31/05- released by Rockies
5/3/05- released by Diamondbacks
5/20/05- released by the Cubs

Oliver has Little Sarge beat by one release. Boy, one spot start in the playoffs and look what happens.

by beercub @ Halos Heaven on Dec 12, 2006 2:13 PM PST reply actions

He's been a lousy starter his whole career

Last year he was a pretty good reliever for a good team. His WHIP and ERA were solid. This wouldn't be the first time a guy couldn't hack it as a starter and found success out of the bullpen.

DarkAngel hath spoken....

by darkangel01 on Dec 12, 2006 5:16 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah, But....

...He was a relieve rin 2004 and didn't even hit the majors in 2005. He had one good year in 2006. If a girl (or guy) was a lousy lay for years and finally had one good streak, would you marry that person because of it?

by beercub @ Halos Heaven on Dec 12, 2006 6:48 PM PST up reply actions