Jeff Weaver, SP, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

February 24, 2006 @ 14:29:34

By Francis Duffy
Edited by KFFL Staff

If you are a fan of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, you were definitely sweating for a majority of this offseason, and not because of the heat. After losing both SP Jarrod Washburn and SP Paul Byrd, the Angels were missing something in their starting rotation.

Unbeknownst to them, all they had to do was look across town to find the answer to their problem. Veteran SP Jeff Weaver, formerly of the Los Angeles Dodgers, was still looking for a team, and the Angels made him one of the latest signings of the offseason.

Weaver joining the Angels was a huge move for the club, as it gives them a solid No. 2 or No. 3 pitcher in the rotation behind Cy Young-winning SP Bartolo Colon. It also gives them another veteran presence on a staff that includes 23-year-old SP Ervin Santana and SP Jered Weaver, Jeff's younger brother, who was a first-round draft choice of the team in 2004 who may not make the team now due to the addition of his older sibling.

Weaver enjoyed one of his more successful seasons last year as a Dodger, going 14-11 with an ERA of 4.22 while recording three complete games (two of them shutouts). Angels manager Mike Scioscia commented on the signing, saying that it certainly makes their starting-five a "championship-caliber staff."

Table: Jeff Weaver - Career Statistics

Year	Team	W-L	ERA	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
1999	DET	9-12	5.55	163.2	176	56	114	1.42
2000	DET	11-15	4.32	200	205	52	136	1.29
2001	DET	13-16	4.08	229.1	235	68	152	1.32
2002	DET/NYY	11-11	3.52	199.2	193	48	132	1.21
2003	NYY	7-9	5.99	159.1	211	47	93	1.62
2004	LAD	13-13	4.01	220	219	67	153	1.30
2005	LAD	14-11	4.22	224	220	43	157	1.17

FANTASY IMPACT

With Colon (21 wins in 2005) as the ace of the staff, along with SP John Lackey (14-5 last season) and Santana (12-8 as a rookie last year), Weaver will not be largely depended on to carry the team. All he will be asked to do is go out every fifth day and pitch well enough for his offense to win.

The 29-year old could prove to be a solid addition to your fantasy team, as well as a late-round steal or nice free agent pickup. If he can throw the ball and take command the way he did during his two years with the Dodgers, he will certainly help the Angels down the line.

KFFLians are saying....

Comment

 

---

What do you think? We want to hear from you!

Name: E-mail: Please, enter the number that you see

Comment Guidelines

Francis Duffy
"Fran Duffy has been involved in sports since he was a child. A Philadelphia native, Fran is obviously a die-hard fan of the Eagles, Phillies, Flyers and Sixers. Fran is desperately waiting to see his first major championship from one of his hometown teams. He is a Broadcasting major at Temple University and has experience on the radio as well as in television production. Fran also currently works with Temple football's video-operation's team and is an avid fantasy sports player. Looking for more experience in writing, Fran joined KFFL in the spring of 2005."

Talk Sports 24/7!
KFFL Sports Forums: Over 24,000 strong and growing!

Fantasy baseball players in the news (05/24)
Fantasy football players in the news (05/24)
Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: Dee Gordon's problems at bat (05/23)
Fantasy Baseball Player Prospecting: Will Smith, Yordano Ventura, Wil Myers, more (05/23)
Fantasy Baseball Roundtable: How trade talks develop (05/23)
Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat: Tyler Clippard, J.J. Putz (05/23)
Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: Mark Teixeira's ill beginnings (05/23)
Fantasy NASCAR race preview: Coca-Cola 600 (05/23)
Fantasy baseball closer depth charts - AL (05/23)
Fantasy baseball closer depth charts - NL (05/23)