The Angels have dealt 32-year old righty swinging catcher Chris Snyder to the Baltimore Orioles for 28-year old righty reliever Rob Delaney.  Snyder played in 21 games in AAA-ball for the Angels this year and he was 27 of 79 (.342 avg, 1.072 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 7 homers and 21 RBIs.  He wasn’t going to play for the Angels this year unless Chris Iannetta or Hank Conger went down to injury.  Delaney pitched in 3 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Orioles this year and he was 0-1 with a 10.12 ERA and a 2.06 WHIP.  He has pitched in 5 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 0-0 with a 10.50 ERA and a 2.33 WHIP.  Delaney has pitched in 340 games (0 starts) in his 8 years in the minors and he is 29-23 with 80 saves, a 2.79 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP.  Delaney could benefit from a change of scenery, as like Dane De La Rosa, he has good stuff.  I like this deal for both teams, as the Angels got a nice arm for a backup catcher, which was a big need for the Orioles.

The Angels have acquired 25-year old righty reliever Elvin Ramirez from the Mets for cash considerations.  Ramirez pitched in 20 games (0 starts) for the Mets in his first taste of the majors in 2012 and he was 0-1 with a 5.48 ERA and a 2.06 WHIP.  Ramirez also pitched in 41 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball for the Mets last year and he was 3-2 with 2 saves, a 2.13 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP.  This was a good pitcher to take a flier on, as Ramirez has a live arm.

The Angels have dealt 34-year old righty swinging outfielder Vernon Wells to the New York Yankees for 21-year old lefty swinging outfielder Exicardo Cayones and 24-year old lefty reliever/starter Kramer Sneed.  Wells played in 77 games for the Angels last year and he was 56 for 243 (.230 avg, .682 OPS) with 36 runs scored, 11 homers, 29 RBIs and 3 stolen bases.  He played in 208 games in his two years with the Angels and he was 166 of 748 (.222 avg, .667 OPS) with 96 runs scored, 36 homers, 95 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.  The Yankees are going to pick up $14 million of the $42 million owed to Wells over the next two years and that is why the Angels didn’t get good prospects back.  Cayones played in 47 games in A-ball for the Yankees last year and he was 36 of 158 (.228 avg, .665 OPS) with 22 runs scored, 1 homer, 15 RBIs and 7 stolen bases.  He has now played in 196 games in his first four years in the minors and he is 164 of 629 (.261 avg, .730 OPS) with 99 runs scored, 2 homers, 83 RBIs and 21 stolen bases.  Sneed pitched in 31 games (4 starts) in A-ball for the Yankees last year and he was 0-7 with a 5.37 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 76 games (21 starts) in his first three years in the minors and he is 6-19 with a 4.39 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP.

The Angels have acquired 25-year old righty reliever Mike Cisco from the Phillies for literally nothing.  Cisco pitched in 40 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball for the Phillies last year and he was 5-3 with 3 saves, a 1.80 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 127 games (47 starts) in his first five years in the minors and he is 29-22 with 6 saves, a 2.93 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP.  This is a no lose situation for the Angels, as they didn’t give anything up for Cisco.

The Angels have acquired 29-year old lefty starting pitcher Jason Vargas from the Seattle Mariners for 29-year old switch-hitting 1B/DH Kendry Morales. Vargas pitched in 33 games (all starts) for the Mariners last year and he was 14-11 with a 3.85 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. Vargas gave up 201 hits and 55 walks in 217 1/3 innings for the Mariners last year while whiffing 141 batters as he was impressive. Vargas has now pitched in 150 games (130 starts) in his first seven years in the majors and he is 42-50 with a 4.35 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Vargas will likely be slotted in the #4 spot in the Angels rotation in 2013. Kendry Morales played in 134 games for the Angels last year and he was 132 of 484 (.273 avg, .787 OPS) with 61 runs scored, 22 homers and 73 RBIs. Morales played in 464 games in his six years with the Angels and he was 455 of 1,620 (.281 avg, .823 OPS) with 216 runs scored, 79 homers, 265 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. This could turn out to be a good trade for both teams.

The Angels have dealt 29-year old righty starting pitcher Ervin Santana and cash to the Kansas City Royals for 27-year old lefty reliever Brandon Sisk. Santana pitched in 30 games (all starts) for the Angels last year and he was 9-13 with a 5.16 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. He pitched in 236 games (233 starts) in his 8 years with the Angels and he was 96-80 with a 4.33 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. He is tied for #4 in Angels’ history with his 233 starts. He is also #7 in wins (96), #6 in innings pitched (1,475 2/3) and #6 in strikeouts (1,167) in Angels’ history. Brandon Sisk pitched in 50 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 3-2 with 8 saves, a 2.54 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Sisk has now pitched in 198 games (9 starts) in his first five years in the minors and he is 20-18 with 42 saves, a 2.59 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. Sisk might have a shot to make the Angels’ bullpen for 2013, if he looks good in spring training.