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The Angels have named former All-Star Charles Nagy their new pitching coach.
— Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) November 3, 2015
The 2015 season is over, and now the work really begins for new Angels GM Billy Eppler. His first order of business was getting rid of Mike Butcher(who has already landed a new job with the Diamondbacks), and the Angels have quickly replaced him with three time All Star Charlie Nagy. Nagy was a three time All Star in his MLB pitching career, pitching for Cleveland for all but one year of his 14 year career, during which he racked up 129 wins. Recently, he had been the pitching coach for Arizona from 2011-2013, where he coached their staff to a team 3.88 ERA and 1.282 WHIP. This past season, he was working as a special assistant with the Indians.
He also had a stint with the Salt Lake Bees from 2006 to 2007, so it's a return of sorts to the Angels family. Nagy is getting a two year contract, plenty of time to erase the thought of Mike Butcher and his slider-loving pitching ethos. Of course, the most interesting thing will be how well he meshes with Mike Scioscia, but i'm sure Scioscia has already been apprised of the situation and has given his requisite thumbs up.
The Angels can now move on to bigger and exciting things this off-season, although they'll probably attend to the vacant hitting coach job first and foremost. So, meet your new pitching czar for the Angels. Welcome to Anaheim, Charlie. May the marine layer treat you kindly, and may the calls forever go your way.
Update:
Jeff Fletcher talked with Billy Eppler about the hiring of Charles Nagy:
"He just checked off a lot of boxes that we were looking for in a number of areas," Angels general manager Billy Eppler said. "He's a guy that obviously was tested as a player at the major league level. Very good demeanor. Very easygoing and relates to pitchers of all types and backgrounds. Very prepared and well though out. As we didcussed the candidates, he just emerged as the guy that we wanted to gravitate to."