Mat Latos Signing With The Angels

With just a week left in the regular season, the Los Angeles Angles got some much needed pitching help as they signed pitcher Mat Latos for the rest of the season. Before signing with the Angels, Latos spent this season with the Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers. This past weekend, Latos was released by the Dodgers.

This season for the Marlins and Dodgers in 21 starts, Latos had an ERA of 4.95, record of 4-10, with 97 strikeouts, with 31 walks over 112 2/3 innings. The Marlins acquired him, hoping to get a good solid pitcher, but that did not work out the way the team wanted it. Since the team was out of a playoff push, the Marlins traded him to the Dodgers. Latos did not seem to do anything in his role, with the team so the team released him.

Even though Latos has been having a bad couple of seasons, he is still a really good veteran pitcher. He has solid command of his pitches, he is a big time performer, and when he is on his game, it is hard to stop him. He is not the same Latos from his San Diego days or from his Cincinnati days, but Latos is still a good solid bottom of the rotation pitcher.

This move surprises me a little bit; the team is still in the hunt for a playoff spot this upcoming season. But the August deadline already past. So Latos will not make any impact on the team this season, therefore the team might of made this move getting ready for him to make an impact next season. For the Angels, Latos will most likely be a relief pitcher for the rest of the regular season.

The team really needs help at starting pitching, but the impact of having Latos will not have full effect on the team until next season starts. Latos is getting another chance to redeem himself in the league, put the past behind him and produce good numbers for the Angels. Having an offense that can score runs will help him a lot when it comes to pitching long innings.