The New York Mets have signed right-handed pitcher Felix Pena to a minor league deal. Pena will likely be invited to spring training camp, if that even takes place this year. The 32-year-old will provide the Mets with experienced depth for the rotation or bullpen. Pena began his career with the Chicago Cubs but has spent the last four years with the Los Angeles Angels, posting a 4.60 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 217 strikeouts and 74 walks in 217 1/3 innings over 68 appearances (24 starts). He doesn't overpower hitters, but he has been mostly around league average with his strikeout and ground-ball rates in recent seasons. Pena missed the first six weeks of the 2021 season and allowed seven earned runs in 1 2/3 innings before being outrighted off the major league roster.
Los Angeles Angels right-handed pitcher Felix Pena (groin) will be sidelined for the next two to four weeks due to a strained right groin that he sustained during Cactus League play Monday. Pena was in competition for a multi-inning relief role with the Halos during camp, with his injury all but assuring that he'll begin 2021 on the injured list. Having amassed a 4.34 ERA over 66 appearances (24 starts) with the Angels since 2018, Pena has been a solid, if not unspectacular fantasy asset in that stretch. With Anaheim already boasting six starters come Opening Day and the groin strain likely to keep him out of the mix, Pena is a non-entity in season-long drafts over the coming weeks.
Ty Buttrey, Felix Pena Will Share Angels Closer Duties
The Los Angeles Angels will utilize the duo of Ty Buttrey and Felix Pena to close out games moving forward, with neither arm officially being tabbed as the full-time closer. Pena picked up the save Thursday against San Diego, while Buttrey has recorded four of the six saves that the club has compiled this season. The split duties will make rostering either in season-long formats frustrating, but Pena appears to be the better option of the two at this stage, having racked up 23 strikeouts in 19 frames.
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Felix Pena (knee) is doubtful to be ready by Opening Day. Manager Joe Maddon intimated as much as Pena continues his rehab after tearing his ACL last season. It is unclear, when healthy, what role Pena will have this season but served as an opener on multiple occasions last season. Pena's numbers were more favorable as a reliever, going 8-1 with a 4.26 ERA as opposed to a 5.34 ERA last season as a starter. Pena has little to zero fantasy value at this time.
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Felix Pena (knee) is likely to open the season as a reliever instead of a starter if he makes the team's Opening Day roster. Pena is recovering from a torn ACL last year and hasn't been built up as a starter this spring. The 29-year-old (30 on Tuesday) Dominican pitched in 22 games (seven starts) for the Angels last year and had a 4.58 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 9.4 K/9 in 96 1/3 innings. He's on the outside looking in for a rotation spot, but he gives the Angels some rotation depth and will be a swingman in 2020. He won't be one to draft in mixed leagues, but he could have some appeal in deep mixed and AL-only leagues if he's making starts at some point during the season.
Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon said that pitcher Felix Pena (knee) should be healthy by Opening Day. Pena is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last August, but he's ahead of schedule and could be an option to win the team's No. 5 rotation spot if he proves himself in spring training. The 29-year-old (30 later this month) had a 4.58 ERA and 1.18 WHIP while striking out 101 and walking 34 in 22 outings (seven starts) over 96 1/3 innings. His chances of making starts are better early in 2020 with Shohei Ohtani (elbow) making his debut in May. Pena has some strikeout upside but typically doesn't go deep into games, limiting his appeal to AL-only and DFS formats if he's making starts.
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Felix Pena (knee), who is working his way back from a torn ACL last year, has been cleared to throw off a mound. Pena made just 22 appearances in 2019 (seven starts) before his knee injury, and he struggled with a 4.58 ERA and 1.18 WHIP while striking out 101 and walking 34 in his 96 1/3 innings for the Angels. He made a career-high 17 starts in 2018 and could be an option for the back of the team's rotation if he proves he's fully healthy in spring training. There is some strikeout upside here for those in AL-only formats if he wins a rotation spot at some point this year, but he won't have any appeal in a relief role.
Angels To Use Luis Garcia As Opener For Felix Pena Thursday
Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Luis Garcia will be used as the opener Thursday against the Seattle Mariners. Garcia will likely pitch one or two innings before giving way to Felix Pena. While Garcia may not be of much use to fantasy owners, Pena could be a sneaky good option against the Mariners on Thursday. Pena has compiled a 3.22 ERA and minuscule 0.96 WHIP with 43 strikeouts over 44 innings so far this season. Tread somewhat carefully, though, as the Mariners are averaging almost six runs over their last three games.
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Felix Pena is expected to come in for multiple innings after the team uses an opener on Thursday against the Mariners. The team has deployed this method in five of Pena's last six appearances and the results have been promising. It is unclear who will pitch the first inning but Pena is posting a 2.82 ERA in the month of May with 21 strikeouts over his last 22 1/3 innings. Pena could serve as a solid back-end play on Thursday as a pitcher who won't rack up a ton of innings but is posting a 0.96 WHIP on the season. Pena allowed only two hits, both home runs, in five innings of work against the Mariners on April 19.
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Felix Pena will serve as the team's primary pitcher Monday against the Twins. The Angels will have pitcher Taylor Cole serve as opener and then Pena will take the mound. Pena has followed openers all season and is posting a 0.96 WHIP. He has pitched more than five innings only once but has 37 strikeouts through 38 2/3 innings this season. While Pena's numbers are trending in a positive direction right now, his lack of ability to pitch deeper into games stifles his fantasy ceiling. Pena could, however, be used in the short-term on Monday against the Twins team that he held to three runs through five innings pitched on May 14.
