RADIO
Cody Allen 2019 Outlook: ADP Likely To Outpace Production
6 years agoFor several years now, Cody Allen has been one of the league’s most reliable closers, and he’s been drafted accordingly. Last season, Allen struggled and finished the season with a 4.70 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. A casual glance at Allen’s career and his 2018 might convince owners it’s an aberration: He still offered a 10.75 K/9 and 27 saves. Both of those numbers are strong enough that Allen looks like a buy-low candidate. A closer look gives several reasons for concern. Since 2015, he’s lost about 2.5 MPH off his fastball, and his strikeout rate and swinging-strike rates have declined accordingly. His xFIP rose all the way to 4.55, and his batted-ball profile puts him in the neighborhood of Robbie Ray and Rick Porcello rather than elite closers like Hader, Diaz, and Treinen. Allen brings real experience and stability to the Angels’ bullpen, and as long as he doesn’t blow too many games, he’ll keep his job as closer, even if he does have another year with an ERA over 4. It’s likely though that Allen’s ADP will creep up towards 150 now that he has a full-time closing gig and there is no uncertainty about how his new team will use him.
