ESPN.com's Buster Olney is reporting that the Angels and Joel Pineiro have agreed to a two year deal worth 16 million dollars. He will take a physical to finalize the deal tomorrow.
C'mon Tony Reagins, Piniero???
Pineiro has been one of the most inconsistent pitchers in baseball, moving from Seattle to Boston then finally St. Louis in just two years. Adam Morris of Lone Star Baseball put it best:
In 2007 and 2008 Pineiro scuffled about, posting a 4.73 FIP and a 4.71 FIP to go with a 4.33 and 5.15 ERA. His K rate was sub-par, his walk rate was okay, and he got some ground balls...but really, he was the definition of a journeyman pitcher.
Pineiro was backed by a good St. Louis defense that had the "made the good plays at the right time" type year. He put up 15 wins and posted a 1.14 WHIP, combining impeccable control with an effective two seamer.
A batter is more likely to make contact versus Pineiro than strike out. But if you're not going to walk anybody, than somehow it is just suppose to work ...
For the Angels, Pineiro will be a number five starter behind four solid starters. The thing is, the Angels didn't need to spend 8 million dollars on a number five pitcher. Matt Palmer was a solid pitcher in 40 apperances (13 starts) posting a 3.93 ERA and 1.32 WHIP.
And the Angels have young prospects who they could experiment with early on, before determining if a midseason acquisition is necessary.
If healthy, Pineiro can probably give the Angels a 10-12 win season, but that is no guarantee. He will be facing the improved Mariners and Rangers, and the Mariners, his first club, probably have the best knowledge of his makeup. If he can command his two-seamer, the possibilities appear to be endless for him...