Aidan Cooke - One Starter and One Reliever that the Mets Should Look to Add from the Angels

   

  Despite making headlines thanks to an otherwordly performance from SP/DH Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Angels once again find themselves hovering around .500. They have been without top talent Mike Trout for much of the season and currently sit 11 games back of Houston in the AL West and 5.5 back of Oakland for the wild card. Additionally, the Angels have struggled against competitive clubs, going just 26-41 against teams with a record north of .500 up to this point. 

    In short, the Angels have little to no chance of making a real postseason push right now. They should use this year's deadline to restock their minor league system and gear up for the future. Although they haven't been inclined to sell in past years, perhaps new GM Perry Minasian will be less short-sighted.

    Enter the Mets, a competitive team in desperate pursuit of arms after injuries have devastated their rotation. Even though both Carlos Carrasco and Noah Syndergaard are slated to return by the postseason, their injury complications and setbacks this year provide some volatility. Depth starters David Peterson and Joey Lucchesi are already done for the season, and Taijuan Walker, who hadn't thrown more than 55 innings since 2017, is already experiencing some fatigue from the increased workload, sporting a 5.16 ERA since June 1st. The bullpen's immense workload will undoubtedly 

    But what could the Angels, who currently rank 25th in team ERA, provide to the Mets staff?

        Starting pitcher Alex Cobb, traded from the Orioles this offseason, is putting together his best season since his 2014 campaign with the Rays. He has pitched to a 3.82 ERA through 77.2 innings  Cobb initially got off to a rough start, but since May 1st, he has a 2.93 ERA across 61.1 frames. His 2.3 fWAR is already the 2nd-best of his career (just 0.2 behind his 2014 season) and his 25.7% strikeout rate is the highest of his career. 

    There may be worries about Cobb sustaining this performance, but his peripherals this year have all been great, with a 2.61 FIP and 3.17 xFIP. His walk rate and strikeout rate have both been solidly above average. Additionally, Cobb has managed contact well, with a measly 3.7% barrel rate and 2.2-degree average launch angle, which would play well in front of a Mets infield that ranks 2nd in baseball in Outs Above Average (thanks in large part to Lindor's addition) and could be getting an upgrade at the deadline. The Angels currently rank 27th in infield Outs Above Average, so a change of scenery could elevate Cobb's game to another level.

    One big boost for Cobb has been his curveball, which he is concentrating below the zone. The location change has upped his whiff rate by nearly 10% and brought his launch angle way down. In 2019, opposing batters average a 17-degree launch angle against his curveball (which would be considered a line drive), but that number has fallen all the way to -11 degrees in 2021 as hitters keep getting on top of it. This is a major reason why hitters are now batting just .214 with a .244 wOBA against his curveball and it has also contributed to Cobb's uptick in chase rate. 

    Alex is a free agent after the season, and that, combined with his poor recent track record, should make him an inexpensive addition. 

    Moving to the bullpen, Raisel Iglesias spent most of his career in Cincinnati before being acquired by the Angels before the 2021 season in a salary dump trade. Iglesias has carved out a solid career for himself, accumulating 457.1 innings pitched and a 3.17 ERA. 

    In 2021, Iglesias has pitched to a 3.35 ERA, the third-highest of his career. Based on some of his other stats, though, one would think that Iglesias is having a career year. He is ringing up hitters at a higher rate than ever, racking up 13.8 K/9. Iglesias's walk rate has been improving every season since 2017 and has dropped down to 1.58 BB/9 on the year. His K-BB% of 35% is 4th among all relievers, trailing well-known names Liam Hendriks, Craig Kimbrel, and Josh Hader. His pitch arsenal, comprised primarily of a fastball, slider, and changeup, is looking as good as ever. In fact, hitters have a 50% whiff rate against Iglesias's slider this year. 

    His expected stats say that Iglesias is quietly putting together an elite season. He has a 3.24 FIP but an even more impressive 2.12 xFIP, which places him 3rd among all qualified relievers. Iglesias's 2.35 xERA is 9th in all of baseball and 7th among relievers, as is his .238 xwOBA against. Skill Interactive ERA (or SIERA, for short), a metric that attempts to predict a pitcher's ERA based on his walks, strikeouts, and quality of contact, gives Iglesias a 1.88 mark for the season- third among all relievers. 

    One major concern about New York's bullpen is how they have fared since the foreign substance ban on June 21st. Since then, Mets relievers have combined for a 4.44 ERA (15th among all 30 teams), 4.99 FIP (24th), and 4.63 xFIP (23rd). If some relievers do continue to struggle without their substances, Iglesias can help remedy the issue. Since the ban, Iglesias has found a way to get even better, throwing 16.1 innings and dominating to the tune of a 1.65 ERA, 1.62 FIP, and 1.45 xFIP (1st among all relief pitchers). 

    Because of his experience as a closer, Iglesias could be tagged for high-leverage duties, giving the team yet another reliable reliever. If he can unlock his potential, Iglesias could be a monster coming out of the bullpen and get some huge outs in October.