AP source: Joe Blanton, Los Angeles Angels reach 2-year, $15M deal
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Joe Blanton throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies in Los Angeles. (Sept. 29, 2012) Credit: AP
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Los Angeles Angels added two more new arms to their retooled pitching staff by agreeing to a $15 million, two-year contract with right-hander Joe Blanton and an $8 million, two-year deal with left-handed reliever Sean Burnett.
Blanton's deal includes a team option for 2015, a person familiar with the negotiations said Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical. Burnett's agreement also is pending a physical.
Blanton, who turns 32 next week, was 10-13 with a 4.71 ERA this year for the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers, who acquired him on Aug. 3. He has pitched 175 or more innings in seven of the last eight seasons.
Los Angeles' rotation also includes Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson and newly acquired Tommy Hanson. Garrett Richards and Jerome Williams are among the other candidates to replace Dan Haren and Ervin Santana.
The Angels declined their $15.5 million option on Haren, instead paying him a $3.5 million buyout, and the right-hander was close to completing a one-year deal with Washington for $13 million. Santana was traded to Kansas City a few days after the World Series.
Los Angeles has said it would like to retain Zack Greinke, who is likely to get one of the priciest contracts for a free-agent pitcher this offseason.
The 30-year-old Burnett was 1-2 with a 2.38 ERA in 70 games this year for the Washington Nationals. He joins a bullpen that already has added Ryan Madson to go along with incumbent closer Ernesto Frieri.
Madson is coming back from elbow ligament-replacement surgery. If healthy, he could supplant Frieri as the team's closer.
