Bullpen depth continues to be the story of the offseason for the Angels as they have agreed to a one-year $1.75 million contract with right-handed reliever José Cisnero. The Angels designated 23-year-old infielder Liván Soto for assignment to clear the roster spot for Cisnero.
Cisnero’s seven-year career has had its ups and downs, debuting for the Houston Astros in 2013, not making an appearance in the big leagues from 2015 to 2018, then being a solid reliever for the Detroit Tigers when on the field until a shaky 2023 campaign. His career ERA is 3.99 in 259.1 innings pitched along with a 24.0 K% and 11.4 BB%. Cisnero was a solid reliever for the Tigers from 2019 to 2022, having a 3.26 ERA in 151.2 innings pitched in that span with a 3.89 FIP, 24.3 K%, 12.1 BB% and a .223 batting average against.
The 2023 season did not go as Cisnero planned, having a 5.31 ERA in 59.1 innings pitched with a 4.60 FIP, 1.483 WHIP, 26.2 K%, and 9.4 BB%. An abundance of hard contact is what sunk Cisnero’s 2023 campaign. A 9.6 Barrel% and 44.6 Hard Hit% are well above the league average (6.9 Barrel% and 36.3 Hard Hit%).
There are two main reasons why Cisnerno gives up hard contact, poorly placed fastballs and a flat sinker. Cisnero has a firm fastball at an average miles per hour of 95.7, but he leaves it in the heart of the plate. Baseball Savant’s pitching heat maps show the heat maps of locations on all pitches thrown and Cisnero’s fastball is very red in the center of the strike zone, as pictured below. As for his sinker, it has 2.8 less inches of vertical movement compared to the league average sinker. Because Cisnero’s sinker stays flat, hitters hit .438 with a .563 slugging percentage and a 51.1 Hard Hit%.
Cisnero is the sixth pitcher in total and the fifth reliever that the Angels have signed to their 40-man roster this winter compared to just one position player (Aaron Hicks). Pitchers and catchers report on February 14 for the Angels and there are still numerous question marks on their roster, especially in the starting rotation. Loading up on relievers may be the Angels way of compensating for their questionable rotation.
