ANAHEIM, CA -- The Angels today acquired RHP Luis García from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for LHP José Álvarez. Today's announcement was made by Angels General Manager Billy Eppler.
García, 31, completed his sixth Major League season with the Phillies in 2018 and went 3-1 with one save and a 6.07 ERA (46 IP - 31 ER). He ranked fifth among National League relievers with an 80.6% inherited runners stranded rate (29 of 36) and stranded each of his first 15 inherited runners to begin the season. He struck out 28 batters across his final 20.2 innings pitched (26 appearances) on the year. Over the last two seasons, García ranked sixth in the National League with a 0.54 home runs allowed per nine innings rate (7 HR - 117.1 IP).
A native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, García made his Major League debut with the Phillies in 2013 and has gone 12-14 with five saves, a 4.12 ERA (244.2 IP - 112 ER) and 223 strikeouts across 251 career games in relief for Philadelphia. He set career highs in 2017 with 71.1 innings pitched and a 2.65 ERA (71.1 IP - 21 ER). In 2014, he was the recipient of the Paul Owens Award as the best pitcher in the Phillies minor league system. García was originally signed by the Dodgers as an international free agent in 2004.
Álvarez, 29, appeared in 76 games for the Angels last season, most by any Halo pitcher, while amassing a 6-4 record with a 2.71 ERA (63 IP - 19 ER). Since being acquired by the Angels from Detroit prior to the 2014 season, the left-hander has registered an 11-13 record with a 3.35 ERA (236.2 IP - 88 ER) in 270 games.