Cody Allen, Los Angeles Angels
One bad year in 2018 didn’t erase the string of solid performances Allen put together before then, as the Angels scooped him up with a one-year deal to be their closer. It also didn’t take long for him to get removed from that role — having a 5.54 ERA, 1.83 WHIP, and 19.7% walk rate in just 12 innings will do that.
This is obviously an important year for the soon-to-be 31-year-old because he’ll once again be a free agent at the conclusion of this season. It’s imperative for him to prove that what happened last season was more of a blip on the radar than anything else. There’s still plenty of time to turn his performance around, but he shouldn’t exactly take much longer.
Allen has struggled with most aspects when it comes to facing opposing hitters. His 50.8% first-pitch strike rate is well below his career average (57.2%), as is his 34.4% zone percentage (43.2%). He’s specifically had a problem with his four-seamer — that offering has produced a 189 wRC+ off the strength of a 1.056 OPS and 30.6% walk rate from opposing hitters.
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