Raisel Iglesias‘ free agency 2021-22 is officially underway. He’s one of the few trustworthy relievers in the league and he’s expected to make a big buck this offseason.
Raisel Iglesias free agency 2021-22
The Angels’ closer finished the season with a 7-5 record. He logged a 2.57 ERA with 34 saves, 103 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 0.93 in 70.0 innings of work. Those are the kind of numbers that could turn a pretender into a contender right away. Iglesias hits the open market after turning down the qualifying offer from the Angels.
The Cuban reliever has made a name for himself around the league for his control and reliability. So, even if the Angeles want to keep him around, he’s expected to be heavily pursued in the offseason. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the 5 teams that make the most sense for him.
5. Padres
The San Diego Padres already boast one of the best offensive lineups in all of baseball, so they may not need to add more bats to their ranks in the offseason. Their pitching, however, is a whole different story; especially when it comes to the bullpen.
The Friars had enough firepower to hit their way into games more often than not. But their bullpen was worn out towards the end of the season and that eventually sealed their fate. They desperately need a reliable arm like Iglesias’ ahead of next season.
4. Twins
The Twins were one of the most disappointing teams in Major League Baseball last season. They had to endure multiple injuries and COVID-19 hurt them like no other team. Even so, they showed signs of life during the second half of the season and they could bounce back in 2022.
The biggest issue holding them back right now is their terrible bullpen. Iglesias had 17 saves during the final 30 games of the season alone. That’s the kind of boost they need if they want to start the season on the right foot next year.
3. Angels
Raisel Iglesias said that he’s looking forward to staying with the Los Angeles Angels, which is kind of surprising given how sought-after he’ll be. The Angels are still several pieces away from being a legit contender and letting Iglesias walk will only make it even tougher.
While playing with Anthony Rendon, Mike Trout, and Shohei Ohtani is an attractive prospect, that’s not enough. The Angels desperately crave pitching if they want to put an end to their postseason drought. They would be wise to bring Raisel back.
2. Red Sox
The fact that Alex Cora gave his starters such a long leash in the playoffs proves how little faith he has in the Boston Red Sox bullpen. And, I mean, you can’t blame him. That’s why they’ve been tied with nearly all the best relief pitchers available.
The Red Sox have a solid offense and their rotation will take better shape next year with Chris Sale starting right away. But their bullpen has been dicey more often than not. They need to be better than the Yankees, Rays, and Blue Jays, and that’s a lot to say.
1. Dodgers
When it comes to Iglesias’ free agent fits, the Los Angeles Dodgers make the most sense by a long shot. Not only would he be able to stay put and avoid moving but he’d be playing for a legit World Series contender. They need him, even if money will be tight.
Kenley Jansen isn’t trustworthy anymore and Dave Roberts must realize it at some point. He blew multiple saves throughout the season and the fans lost patience with him. There isn’t much room for improvement at LA but they desperately crave another arm in the bullpen.
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