Angels acquire Guillermo Zuniga from the Cardinals for cash considerations - DFA Warren

[mmc]

 

[jsnpritchett]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/02/cardinals-designate-guillermo-zuniga-for-assignment.html

Zuniga, 25, signed with St. Louis on a big league deal last offseason despite the righty never having pitched above the Double-A level to that point in his career after the right-hander became a free agent on the heels of a pair of seasons where he struck out a combined 29.8% of batters faced at the Double-A level. Despite that minimal experience, it didn’t take long for Zuniga to make his big league debut last season. The Cardinals added him to the roster in time for him to make his big league debut on May 2 as he struck out two without allowing a hit or a walk in a scoreless inning of work.

That would be Zuniga’s only big league appearance for quite some time, as he returned to Triple-A shortly after and spent time on the injured list in the minor leagues. Eventually, the club called Zuniga back up to the majors in August though his stay on the big league roster once again proved to be short-lived. The righty allowed a run on two hits while striking out two in the sole appearance of his second stint in the big leagues before being placed on the 15-day injured list with a forearm strain that eventually ended the right-hander’s season.

In between Zuniga’s brief stints in the majors this year, he struggled badly at the Triple-A level with a 7.63 ERA across 29 appearances. While he struck out a respectable 25.3% of batters faced during that time, he struggled badly with his control and allowed a worrisome 13.7% walk rate. In addition to his seemingly wavering command this past season, health is another concern for the righty entering the 2024 campaign. Updates on Zuniga’s strained right forearm have been few and far between since he was transferred to the 60-day IL back in September, so it’s unclear if he’s expected to be ready for Spring Training.

That being said, the right-hander has flashed a plus breaking ball and can touch triple digits with his heater, making him an enticing arm for most any team to add as optionable bullpen depth if healthy. Looking ahead, the Cardinals will have seven days to either trade Zuniga or attempt to pass him through waivers. If they’re successful in passing Zuniga through waivers, he figures to remain in the organization as non-roster depth headed into the 2024 campaign.

[tdawg87]

Simply collect everyone who throws hard.

[Taylor]

Austin Warren DFA'd after his birthday. Classy move, Arte.

[mmc]

1 minute ago, Taylor said:

Austin Warren DFA'd after his birthday. Classy move, Arte.

Like every other player that’s ever been DFAd by a team?

[jsnpritchett]

2 minutes ago, mmc said:

Like every other player that’s ever been DFAd by a team?

[tdawg87]

5 minutes ago, Taylor said:

Austin Warren DFA'd after his birthday. Classy move, Arte.

They should have done it ON his birthday for the lulz

[mmc]

 

[James]

12 minutes ago, Taylor said:

Austin Warren DFA'd after his birthday. Classy move, Arte.

[Hubs]

They have a week to trade him or put him through waivers, but can't they just revoke the DFA on the 14th to put Quijada on the 60 Day IL, and then do the same with him? 

[BTH]

7 minutes ago, Hubs said:

They have a week to trade him or put him through waivers, but can't they just revoke the DFA on the 14th to put Quijada on the 60 Day IL, and then do the same with him? 

Pretty sure you’re not allowed to revoke a DFA

[Hubs]

1 hour ago, BTH said:

Pretty sure you’re not allowed to revoke a DFA

Right ok, looked it up

Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB).^[2] A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must, within seven days,^[a] return the player to the 40-man roster, place the player on waivers, trade the player, release the player, or "send outright" the player from the 40-man roster into Minor League Baseball.^[3

^{They dont have revocable waivers anymore, so if they put him on waivers he's gone or assigned to AAA if he accepts the assignment.}  

Edited February 7 by Hubs

[Lazorko Saves]

I think this is the first Guillermo the Angels have ever had, no?

[jsnpritchett]

17 minutes ago, Lazorko Saves said:

I think this is the first Guillermo the Angels have ever had, no?

Willie Montanez's first name was Guillermo. They just called him Willie.

[tdawg87]

5 minutes ago, jsnpritchett said:

Willie Montanez's first name was Guillermo. They just called him Willie.

Did AO hack your account?

[Chuck]

 

[Angel Oracle]

11 minutes ago, jsnpritchett said:

Willie Montanez's first name was Guillermo. They just called him Willie.

He even made his MLB debut at age 18 in 1966, very small cup of coffee, demitasse.

Edited February 7 by Angel Oracle

[Angel Oracle]

If he touches 100+ and has a potentially solid breaking pitch, can’t hurt to have him in AAA to work on his control.

Still only 25.

[tdawg87]

Definitely some solid depth. Lots of strikeout potential. I'm sure he'll get a ST invite.

[Vegas Halo Fan]

Damn it. Just when it appeared that Cash had finally found a place that he could call home, he gets traded again. He was a key piece going into 2024.

[Second Base]

He has two absolutely nasty pitches in his arsenal. If he ever figures out how to "dot" them, he'll be dominant. 

And that's Minasian's plan right now. Get as many hard throwing relievers as possible in MLB and AAA and see what sticks. And if enough of them stick, you may only need your starters to go 5 innings a night. 

And there's two ways to look at this. 

1. It's a TERRIBLE idea to base the success of your team on relievers. They're the most unpredictable entity in baseball. A good bullpen doesn't make a good rotation, but a good rotation can make a bullpen better if they're only relying on 3-4 guys in relief. 

2. It's a BRILLIANT idea because quantity over quality in the bullpen will naturally become higher quality when you narrow the group of relievers and prospects down to 8 or 9, and then further down to a solid five or so that you use in close games. 

[tdawg87]

Just now, Second Base said:

He has two absolutely nasty pitches in his arsenal. If he ever figures out how to "dot" them, he'll be dominant. 

And that's Minasian's plan right now. Get as many hard throwing relievers as possible in MLB and AAA and see what sticks. And if enough of them stick, you may only need your starters to go 5 innings a night. 

And there's two ways to look at this. 

1. It's a TERRIBLE idea to base the success of your team on relievers. They're the most unpredictable entity in baseball. A good bullpen doesn't make a good rotation, but a good rotation can make a bullpen better if they're only relying on 3-4 guys in relief. 

2. It's a BRILLIANT idea because quantity over quality in the bullpen will naturally become higher quality when you narrow the group of relievers and prospects down to 8 or 9, and then further down to a solid five or so that you use in close games. 

Would be a nice setup for signing a certain starting pitcher.

[totdprods]

Having another young relief arm with options was needed. Not sure if Warren had an option left or not but it’s only a good thing to add another live arm for that last rotating bullpen spot.

[Second Base]

1 minute ago, tdawg87 said:

Would be a nice setup for signing a certain starting pitcher.

Yes, Snell seems like he'd be a particularly good fit for the Angels. Limiting LH power and only needing 5 or so innings. 

But Snell may not want to be an Angel. Then again, money talks. I just think his asking price will need to drop under 200 million. But at that price, he's likely to pick someone else over the Angels. 

[BTH]

19 minutes ago, Second Base said:

Yes, Snell seems like he'd be a particularly good fit for the Angels. Limiting LH power and only needing 5 or so innings. 

But Snell may not want to be an Angel. Then again, money talks. I just think his asking price will need to drop under 200 million. But at that price, he's likely to pick someone else over the Angels. 

I think the bigger holdup is the Angels may not want Snell, at least at his asking price.