Angels acquire RHP Chris Stratton for Williams Jerez

Just after the clock struck midnight, the Angels tweeted out some news:

The first thing to know about Chris Stratton is that he tied for the league lead in shutouts last year. With one.

2018 was his first full season in the majors, and he twirled 145 innings with a 5.09 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP for the San Francisco Giants. With six Angel starters who seem to have better numbers than Stratton (Heaney, Skaggs, Harvey, Cahill, Barria, Peña), the 28 year old will likely start the season in Salt Lake City. With the Angels, you never know when he’ll be needed.

Williams Jerez was acquired from the Red Sox in the Ian Kinsler deal, and the Angels gave him the opportunity to make his major league debut. Although he slowed flashes of brilliance in his 15 innings, he was very wild, walking 8, and also allowed 3 HRs.

The Angels will carry no lefties in the bullpen to start 2019.

Here’s what John Sickles said:

There’s nothing spectacular about Stratton. He has four adequate pitches and he throws strikes. He won’t dominate, but he is versatile, a good 11th man on a staff for mop up and long relief work who can make some starts if necessary.

That’s pretty much about it. He’s a serviceable pitcher. This trade grades out as meh. Nothing much more to be said.