Good News: Angels reliever officially increase his trade value

The Angels’ bullpen has struggled mightily this season, ranking among the worst in the league. They’ve repeatedly blown leads, lacked consistency, and cycled through a long list of underwhelming arms.

That list includes both young prospects like Caden Dana—whose development has been repeatedly interrupted—and seasoned veterans such as Michael Derrell-Hicks. Overall, finding dependable relievers has proven more difficult than anticipated.

Amid the turmoil, He has emerged as one of the few dependable options for manager Ron Washington. Claimed by the Angels after being let go by the Texas Rangers about a month ago, Strickland has pitched in seven games since joining the team. Though mostly used in low-pressure situations, he’s made a strong impression.

In those seven appearances, Strickland hasn’t allowed a run. Over 7.2 innings, he’s surrendered just two hits and issued four walks. While he’s only recorded two strikeouts with the Angels so far, his career numbers suggest that could improve with time.

 

 

Even if he continues relying on weak contact and trusting a shaky Angels defense, his strategy has worked so far in Anaheim.

Strickland is utilizing a mix of fastballs and sliders, occasionally mixing in a sinker and change-up. This approach has kept hitters off balance, resulting in a ground ball or fly ball 95.6% of the time they make contact—an exceptionally high rate that likely won’t last, but has nonetheless made him a reliable option in the middle innings.

Given his recent success, it’s understandable that some Angels fans are already wondering whether the team might flip him to a contender at the trade deadline. With the return from the Luis Garcia trade looking increasingly promising, moving Strickland for a prospect or two—especially considering he joined the roster just weeks ago—could be a smart play.

Considering the ever-changing nature of the Angels’ bullpen, Strickland’s role could expand at any time. If he can continue to succeed in higher-leverage situations and add a few more strikeouts to his stat line, he might solidify himself not only as a key bullpen piece for the Angels but also as an appealing trade chip for playoff-bound teams.