Angels return Rule 5 pick Jose Alberto Rivera back to the Astros

[Second Base]

1 hour ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

Don’t be surprised if they get him back sometime this summer. 

If the Pirates feel there's no future in his arm after TJ surgery, then I'd reach one of two conclusions.

1. They're right, and making mistakes like grabbing Soriano in the Rule 5 is part of the reason why they're a cellar dweller.

2. They're wrong and mistakes like letting him go are part of the reason why they're a cellar dweller. 

---The difference here is that Soriano's outcome (positive or negative) should've been realized with the Angels, not in Pittsburgh.

[wopphil]

On 3/24/2021 at 6:29 PM, Second Base said:

If the Pirates feel there's no future in his arm after TJ surgery, then I'd reach one of two conclusions.

1. They're right, and making mistakes like grabbing Soriano in the Rule 5 is part of the reason why they're a cellar dweller.

2. They're wrong and mistakes like letting him go are part of the reason why they're a cellar dweller. 

---The difference here is that Soriano's outcome (positive or negative) should've been realized with the Angels, not in Pittsburgh.

Is he really *that* good? His numbers were solid, but nothing that screams “can’t miss.” Isn’t it just as likely this guy goes the way of Jose Arredondo?

[Second Base]

1 hour ago, wopphil said:

Is he really *that* good? His numbers were solid, but nothing that screams “can’t miss.” Isn’t it just as likely this guy goes the way of Jose Arredondo?

Soriano is better than Arredondo was. Dondo was lightning in a bottle, nothing sustainable. He bore that out in the minors and his stay in the majors was a short one. Soriano has that longer, leaner, projectable frame and repeatable mechanics. If age and injury weren't a factor, you'd be crazy not to develop him as a starter.

His arsenal and ability were every bit as good as Chris Rodriguez. But he got injured and tomorrow is never guaranteed for arm injuries.

Even if nothing ever comes of him, the Angels still made a mistake when they didn't protect him. Sometimes, you can get away with it (Jared Walsh, Jose Rojas) and sometimes you can't.