The Los Angeles Angels have made a splash in the MLB offseason by trading for Grayson Rodriguez from the Baltimore Orioles, which initially stirred excitement among fans. However, that enthusiasm has since cooled, and the team has been relatively quiet in their subsequent moves.
Recently, on Tuesday, the Angels struck again with a subtle yet intriguing transaction by claiming right-handed pitcher Osvaldo Bido off waivers from the Miami Marlins. At first glance, this might seem like just another minor acquisition, but a closer examination reveals potential hidden value in this player.
Bido made his major league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates before spending the last two seasons with the Oakland Athletics. In the previous season, he made 26 appearances, including 10 starts, but his performance was underwhelming, featuring a 5.87 ERA and a 6.07 FIP across 79⅔ innings pitched. His strikeout rate was disappointing at only 18.7%, and he walked nearly 10% of the hitters he faced.
Despite these troubling stats, it’s worth noting that just a year earlier, Bido's metrics told a very different story. His Baseball Savant profile was filled with impressive numbers, indicating he had a strong season. He excelled in generating weak contact, as shown by an average exit velocity of 85.6 mph and a hard-hit rate of just 27%. He even ranked in the 81st percentile for pitching run value, finishing the year with an impressive 3.41 ERA and a 116 ERA+.
These statistics suggest that there is untapped potential in Bido, and the Angels may be relying on their new pitching coach, Mike Maddux, to help him return to his previous form from 2024. Notably, there was little to no decline in Bido's velocity between the 2024 and 2025 seasons, which casts doubt on the notion that injuries caused his performance drop-off.
Interestingly, there are scant statistical reasons explaining why Bido's performance fell so sharply from one season to the next. However, considering he is making the league minimum, is still pre-arbitration eligible, and is under team control until 2030, this acquisition represents a low-risk, high-reward opportunity for the Angels. They are likely banking on him to contribute valuable innings and perhaps help secure additional victories in the upcoming season.
With nearly 200 innings pitched in the majors and 28 starts to his name, it’s anticipated that the Angels might move Bido to the bullpen when they arrive in Tempe for spring training next month. Fans should keep an eye on him as he competes for one of the final positions on the Angels' Opening Day roster.
