Angels Nearing Deal with Joe Blanton

Multiple outlets are reporting that the Los Angeles Angels are nearing an agreement with free agent right hander Joe Blanton. The deal would be for two years and $15 million.

Blanton is 83-75 in his nine year career. Image: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Blanton split last season between Philadelphia and the Dodgers and pitched to a 4.71 ERA while posting a 10-13 record. Prior to joining the Phillies in 2008, Blanton spent three-and-a-half seasons in the AL West with the Oakland A’s. Known earlier in his career as a finesse guy, Blanton has actually significantly raised his strikeout rate in recent years, going from an average of 5.2 per nine innings in the first four years of his career to 7.4 per nine over the last four.

Blanton’s addition to the Angels effectively signals that the team has all but given up on re-signing right hander Zack Greinke. On top of Blanton, the Angels acquired Tommy Hanson earlier in the week and all indications are that they may be going after one more starter from a group that includes Anibal Sanchez, Edwin Jackson,Shaun Marcum, and Ryan Dempster.

Earlier in the  day, the Angels added left handed reliever Sean Burnett on a two year deal as well. Seems like they’ve figured out that they can fill a lot of holes with the kind of money Greinke was commmanding.