Rookie SP Parker Bridwell since being traded from the Orioles to the Angels for Cash Considerations: 2.88 ERA, 7-1 record, 11 GS, 72 IP, 44 Ks.

It's not everyday that a pitcher traded only for cash considerations pitches so well right off the bat! The Angels traded for him as recently as April 17, 2017, so it's not like he's had a lot of time to adjust, and he was thrown right "into the fire." And before this season he had only pitched 3.1 MLB innings, in 2 relief appearances last season.

He's a 25 year old, former Orioles 9th round selection, with a 5 pitch repertoire (4 seam, cut, sinker, slider, change). With the Orioles Bridwell didn't throw a sinker, but it seems that Bridwell has quickly adapted to add that to his arsenal as an Angel.

Right now, Bridwell is pitching like an Ervin Santana type pitcher for the Angels, after being acquired for next to nothing. Like Santana, his peripherals aren't pretty and they both have high FIP (4.51 and 4.71) but they are groundball and weak-liner type pitchers who have been getting high-pressure outs this season. Good defenses don't hurt, either.

Angels fans are sure hoping that he keeps this level of play up and have been loving the acquisition. Similar to Ervin Santana, Bridwell has been worth 2.0 bWAR and 0.8 fWAR in 72 IP this season. Santana has been worth 3.5 bWAR and 1.6 fWAR in 156 IP.

Here's a good LA Times article on Brid overcoming his struggles from last month, for anyone interested: After years of toil, the Angels' Parker Bridwell is seeing things break his way