Last night, Los Angeles Angels star pitcher Garret Richards went down in a heap as his right knee collapsed. Richards was carted out on a stretcher, as you can watch here. This is a devastating injury for Richards, who was en route to Cy Young votes, and for the Angels, who currently sport the best record in baseball. Richards, just 26 and experiencing his first real success at the Major League level, is likely done for the year. The silver lining here, if there is such a thing in this situation, is that the Angels no longer have to worry about extending Richards beyond any innings totals with which they are comfortable in the heat of a playoff race. Richards has never pitched more innings than he has already this year and it looks like he will have to wait until 2015 to pursue the 200 inning mark.
Richards’ injury leaves the Angels in a tough spot. This is a team with something like a $150 Million payroll. They’re paying $18.6M to Vernon Wells to sit at home. They’re not going to pack it in and effectively give up by running out what is effectively the 31st best rotation in baseball. But how do the Angels replace Richards’ production?
They will not be able to replace Richards. He ranks in the top 10 in the AL in ERA, WAR, IP, WHIP, and Strikeouts. The advanced stats agree – this guy is a star. It is currently after the non-waiver deadline and the Angels won’t be able to get a star to effectively replace Richards. The good news for the regular season is that the Angels will only have to replace about 6 starts. Even bad pitchers can be good for 7 starts. Hell, they can be good for 20 starts. Chris Young has a 3.07 ERA in 25 starts despite a fastball that averages 85. Aaron Harang has posted a 3.50 ERA despite looking like this. And Dallas Keuchel has looked like an Ace at points this season.
The bad news is that the Angels will not have a GUY for the playoffs. They will be reliant upon CJ Wilson, Jared Weaver’s shoulder fragments, and Mike Trout’s heroics. Still, the Braves started Freddy Garcia in a playoff game against Clayton Kershaw just last year. Garcia and Kershaw each went 6 innings, allowing 2 runs. Crazy things happen in the playoffs and Angels brass just needs to ensure that its club gets there in a tough AL West.
The name that keeps popping up is Bartolo Colon. The Mets are out of playoff contention this year and have a rotation that looks to be about 9 deep right now heading into 2015. Colon will make about $13 Million for the rest of the year and into 2015. Based on industry news around the trade deadline that left reporters dumbfounded by the apparent lack of interest on Colon, the big Met may clear waivers and make his way to the Angels. This situation would represent the ideal for the Angels. Colon posted a 2.65 ERA last year while pitching in the AL West and has pitched well at times for the Mets this year. He’s allowed 2 earned runs over his last 15 innings pitched and struck out 14 while walking just 1. He’s a veteran and could pitch in the postseason.
AJ Burnett is another name that I saw. He’s recently hinted at retirement and has looked disinterested all year while collecting his $15 Million from the Phillies. Being dropped in the middle of a playoff race may reinvigorate the guy who has a no-hitter on his resume and is a year removed from a 200-strikeout season.
Mark Mulder is apparently healthy again after blowing out his Achilles in Spring Training with the Angels. I could not find any reports about his recent bullpen session, but a story line apt for Hollywood involves Mulder pitching in the postseason for the Angels.
Drew Rucinski has never been a highly touted Angels prospect, but the 25 year old currently has the second most strikeouts in the AA Texas League. He’s got a 3.07 ERA and pitched 7 strong innings on August 19th, allowing one run and striking out 8. He may not be Major League ready yet, but would be much more fun than Wade LeBlanc. This type of late-season call-up of a non-prospect isn’t without precedent. In 2010, the Braves called up a guy named Brandon Beachy who wasn’t among their top 40 prospects in December, 2009. If I were GM of the Angels, this is the guy that I would give the first crack.
There are a number of veterans pitching through the minor league ranks looking for a shot. With their season ERA’s in parentheses: Brett Tomko (4.74), Randy Wolf (4.68), Buddy Carlyle (2.16), Chien-Ming Wang (4.21), Scott Baker (3.32).
We should mention that as of writing, there has been no timetable for Richards’ recovery, no official diagnosis other than “patella injury”. He may be back in a few weeks, arm rested, ready to contribute. Once the doctors have a good look at his knee, and if the word is not good, the Angels have options. They just need to be prepared to get creative.
-Sean Morash
Stat of the Day: Brandon Beachy started 2010 as a AA middle reliever before making three starts for the Braves in September. The Braves made the playoffs as a Wild Card.
