One of the highest upside pitchers in free agency is now off the market. Right-hander Noah Syndergaard is heading out to the West Coast. “Thor” has come to an agreement on a deal with the Los Angeles Angels. Per Jeff Passan, the contract is for one year and a total of $21 million. Syndergaard, 29, has pitched just two innings in the last two seasons. He received the $18.4M qualifying offer from the New York Mets and had until November 17 to accept or decline it. Syndergaard underwent Tommy John Surgery back in March 2020 and was able to appear in only two games in 2021. In six major league seasons with the Mets, Syndergaard has posted a 47-31 record with a 3.32 ERA, 119 ERA+, and 9.7 K/9.
What The Deal Means for the Angels
There is a common phrase in sports that there are no bad one-year deals. In most cases, this is true. However, the Angels are taking a big gamble with this move. Because Syndergaard received the QO, the Angels will have to surrender their second-round pick. It’s important to note, considering how teams view the amateur draft every year. However, what made Syndergaard an interesting case this offseason was his upside. He has ace-level stuff, with a fastball in the high 90s and excellent breaking pitches. In the rotation, Syndergaard will slot in the right behind Shohei Ohtani, creating a potent 1-2 punch if both are healthy. While the Angels are not strapped for cash, this deal should not get in the way of spending more on pitching this offseason. Other potential fits for the Angels include Marcus Stroman, Robbie Ray, Steven Matz, and Justin Verlander.
Final Thoughts
Noah Syndergaard is a great pitcher who has pitched like an ace at times in his career. While his ceiling is higher than what he showed in 2019 (4.28 ERA, 3.60 FIP in 197 2/3 innings), there is no doubt he can make a mark in Anaheim. Similar to Yasmani Grandal in 2019 and Marcus Semien in 2021, Syndergaard is banking on himself in a one-year deal before heading back out onto the market next offseason. The signing could prove to be a fantastic one-year deal with the Angels if Syndergaard can stay healthy in 2022.
