The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired LHP Jose Alvarez from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for RHP Luis Garcia.
For the Phillies, it would make no sense not to make this trade. They get a 29 year old lefty coming off the best year of his career, who will help improve their bullpen. They trade a 31 year old who is worse than the player they are getting. It\’s a great trade for them.
Alvarez, 29, had a 2.71 ERA, 3.05 FIP and 59 strikeouts in 63 innings for the Angels in 2018, the best year of his career. In his career for the Angels and Detroit Tigers, Alvarez has an ERA of 3.69, a 3.64 FIP and 246 strikeouts in 275.1 innings.
For the Angels, I really don\’t understand this trade for them. Garcia is coming off a terrible 2018 at 31 years of age, but I think his one and only strength was his really good 2017. The Angels are hoping they can get him back into that form.
Garcia, who will be 32 by the start of the season, had a 6.07 ERA, a 3.51 FIP and 51 strikeouts in 46 innings for the Phillies in 2018. The best year of his career was in 2017, when he posted a 2.65 ERA, a 3.12 FIP and 60 strikeouts in 71.1 innings. In his MLB career, all for the Phillies, Garcia has a 4.12 ERA, a 3.88 FIP and 223 strikeouts in 244.2 innings.
I think the Phillies win this trade. It\’s simple. Alvarez over Garcia, and he\’s about to be three years younger than the latter.
CarterHud 