Orioles Trade Dylan Bundy To Angels For Four Pitching Prospects

The Angels made a move to shore up their long-struggling rotation Wednesday, acquiring righthander Dylan Bundy from the Orioles in exchange for four righthanded pitching prospects: Isaac Mattson, Zach Peek, Kyle Bradish and Kyle Brnovich.

The move is the Orioles latest to stock up on pitching prospects. They acquired lefthander Easton Lucas from the Marlins for Jonathan Villar earlier in the week.

ORIOLES ACQUIRE

Isaac Mattson, RHP
Age: 24

Mattson is the most advanced of the pitching prospects the Orioles received in the deal. The Pittsburgh product moved to the bullpen full-time in 2019 and vaulted from high Class A to Triple-A, posting a 2.33 ERA across the three levels with 110 strikeouts against just 27 walks in 73.1 innings. He ended the year with a 1.69 ERA over seven relief appearances in the Arizona Fall League. Mattson’s 90-94 mph fastball plays way up with a high spin rate and his ability to command it. He reads hitters swings and puts the pull where they can’t drive it, making his fastball highly effective despite its pedestrian velocity. His 82-84 mph slider is an average to above-average pitch which gives him a viable secondary offering, and he has a mid-80s changeup for lefthanders. Mattson is nearly ready for the majors and should be in Baltimore’s bullpen in 2020.

Kyle Bradish, RHP
Age: 23

The Angels’ fourth-round pick in 2018, Bradish doesn’t have the velocity or command to start but has a tick of promise as a potential reliever. His 91-93 mph fastball cuts just enough to be interesting and his plunging overhand curveball gives him a potential above-average secondary. The hope is Bradish’s fastball would tick up to 94-96 mph in the bullpen and be a decent enough pitch to pair with his curveball. Otherwise, he’s organizational depth piece.

Zach Peek, RHP
Age: 21

The Angels drafted Peek in the sixth round out of Winthrop this year but did not send him out to an affiliate after signing. Peek’s fastball sits at 90-93 mph and touches 95. He complements it with a potential above-average curveball and average changeup. His easy delivery allows him above-average control and gives him a chance to remain a starter. While none of Peek’s stuff is overwhelming, his three-pitch mix and history of throwing strikes give him a solid foundation. He still has room to grow into his 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame and could see his stuff tick up as he fills out.

Kyle Brnovich, RHP
Age: 22

The Angels selected Brnovich in the eighth round from Elon in 2019 and did not send him out after signing. Brnovich is a likely reliever who relies heavily on his plus-plus, swing-and-miss slider. His 88-92 mph fastball is more of a secondary pitch to his slider rather than the other way around, and he’ll mix in a changeup on occasion. Brnovich’s slider is what will carry him up the ladder. He could be a starter in the low minors, but his future is in the bullpen as a slider-heavy reliever.

 

ANGELS ACQUIRE:

Dylan Bundy, RHP
Age: 27

Injuries have largely prevented Bundy from becoming the ace he was projected to be out of high school, but he’s found a role as a durable, league-average starter. Bundy has made at least 28 starts and pitched at least 160 innings each of the last three seasons and been roughly league-average in at least two of them. While that’s not sexy, it’s something the Angels desperately need. They had no pitcher throw more than 150 innings last year and only one each in 2017 and 2018. Bundy is arbitration-eligible and won’t be a free agent until 2022.