Angels add another piece to their restructured bullpen today
Los Angeles Angels signed free-agent left-hander Sean Burnett to a two-year deal with an option for 2015.
Reportedly the deal is worth $8 million.
Burnett has been a prototypical left-handed specialist enjoins a new rebuild Angels bullpen led by new closer Ryan Madson, Ernesto Frieri, Kevin Jepsen and Scott Downs. The Angels traded right-hander Jordan Walden to Atlanta for starter Tommy Hanson last Friday.
The Nationals had decided Burnett was not “a fit financially or terms-wise” for them, General Manager Mike Rizzo said earlier this week.
The Nationals reportedly are targeting free-agent left-hander J.P. Howell who has spent the last seven seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays. Howell posted a 3.04 ERA in 50 2/3 innings for Tampa Bay last season.
The market for left-handed relievers is drying up quickly, as the Cardinals signed Randy Choate to a three-year $7.5 million contract earlier today. The other remaining free agent left-handed relievers include Manny Parra, George Sherrill and Michael Gonzalez.
The Angels remain interested in free-agent Zack Greinke. Reportedly Greinke’s new contract could eclipse the record contract of $161 million signed by CC Sabathia of the New York Yankees, and may prove to be cost prohibitive for Los Angeles.
