The Angels are cornering the market on players named Iglesias. The Reds, meanwhile, are paring payroll from their bullpen.
Raisel Iglesias was Cincinnati's closer from 2017-20. His 100 saves were fourth-most in the majors and he finished among the top-16 relievers on the ESPN Player Rater in each of those four years. On Monday, he became the second Iglesias to be traded to the Angels during the past seven days, as the Reds dealt him and his $9.125 million, walk-year salary in exchange for reliever Noe Ramirez and future considerations. As always, whenever a closer changes teams, it sends waves throughout the fantasy baseball world.
Iglesias should presumably take over as the Angels' full-time closer, after serving one of the game's more effective relievers in 2020. This past season, he went 8-of-10 in converting saves with baseball's eighth-best FIP among qualified relievers (1.84). The Angels did squeeze an arguably better year out of Mike Mayers (their closer to conclude 2020). However, there's little doubt that, of the two, Iglesias is more suited to short-relief work. After all, Mayers had four appearances of two innings or greater, which was tied for seventh-most in the majors. Mayers and Ty Buttrey, previously the next-most logical closer candidate on the team, can slide back into multi-inning, high-leverage roles while setting up Iglesias for those save opportunities.
The league switch shouldn't be devastating to Iglesias' numbers, at least not like it might have been a few short years ago. With the designated hitter in the National League last season, offense was up considerably -- to the point that the NL collectively averaged more runs per game (4.71) than the American League (4.58). In fairness, as teams played only within regions, it's worth pointing out that the AL West (4.42) did enjoy noticeably greater run production than the NL Central (4.07), but some of that will be mitigated by Iglesias' moving out of homer-friendly Great American Ball Park and into a more neutral Angel Stadium.
In short, don't expect much to change with Iglesias, fantasy-wise. He was my No. 10 reliever before the trade, and he remains 10th-ranked at the position afterwards, although it's possible he could move up to eighth or ninth depending upon how things shake out for free agent Alex Colome (No. 8) or in the Astros bullpen (Ryan Pressly is currently at No. 9).
It's the role that Iglesias left behind which should draw greater fantasy intrigue, as the Reds have a number of relievers who could capably fill his ninth-inning shoes. Michael Lorenzen, one of the better-hitting pitchers in the game, is probably the first name who comes to most fantasy managers' minds, but it was Lucas Sims' 2020 that warrants more attention. Barring any announcement by the Reds, expect the team to employ an open spring competition for the role.
Sims stands out due to the significant adjustments he has made since his full-time conversion to the bullpen during the 2019 season. He has experienced a noticeable boost in average four-seam fastball velocity in both of his two full seasons with the Reds. He also recorded 20 of his 34 strikeouts last season with his curveball and slider -- pitches that have been more effective for him since he shelved his ineffective changeup. Sims was especially effective against left-handed hitters, allowing them only three extra-base hits (all doubles) and a .275 wOBA in 2020.
Sims is also capable of extending beyond merely the single inning many closers pitch. In fact, he totaled 25 2/3 innings in his 20 appearances last year. The Reds might well prefer him in a higher-leverage role. For fantasy, this might merely mean greater volume should he be tabbed their closer, à la Iglesias in his early stages in the role. There's a very real chance that Sims would warrant a top-15 RP selection if he's declared "the guy," but until we get more of a read on his role, I'll slot him 29th, between A.J. Puk and Diego Castillo.
Lorenzen and Amir Garrett, who was lethal against left-handed hitters last season (.043 BA, .156 wOBA) thanks to his slider, could factor in any sort of committee arrangement, if the Reds so choose. Garrett's situational dominance makes him slightly more appealing as a prospective save-getter, but Lorenzen's game seems more complete to me. I'll slot both of them as top-50 relievers for now, with Lorenzen (No. 43) checking in six slots higher than Garrett.