Angels add Markel in deal with Pirates
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ANAHEIM -- The Angels added an arm on Thursday, acquiring right-handed reliever Parker Markel from the Pirates for cash considerations.
Markel, 29, pitched in 20 games as a rookie last season, posting a 15.43 ERA in 4 2/3 innings with Seattle before recording a 5.71 ERA in 17 1/3 frames with Pittsburgh. Overall, he had a 7.77 ERA with 24 strikeouts and 17 walks in 22 innings.
Markel, born in Newport Beach, Calif., throws hard. His average fastball velocity was 95.6 mph, and he also posted solid spin rates, per Statcast. Markel threw his slider more than his fastball last year, and it's clearly his put-away pitch.
Markel figures to compete for a spot in the Halos' bullpen in Spring Training and does have Minor League options, so he can be sent to Triple-A Salt Lake. In eight Minor League seasons, he has a career 3.81 ERA with 454 strikeouts in 508 innings.