The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim added to their mix of bullpen arms today with the signing of Scott Downs to a three-year deal. The total contract is worth $15 million, per the Associated Press, with a potential for $1 million in performance bonuses, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. The signing of Downs is the second reliever signed by the Angels this offseason, joining Hisanori Takahashi, who signed a two-year, $8 million deal earlier this month.
Downs, a left-hander who turns 35 years old in March, was 5-5 with a 2.64 ERA in 61 1/3 innings for the Toronto Blue Jays last year. In his last four seasons, Downs had a 2.36 ERA while averaging over 59 innings per year, with 3.0 walks and 7.8 strikeouts per nine innings. Downs was a Type A free agent, but because the Angels' 2011 first-round draft pick is protected, Toronto will receive the Angels' second-round pick (in addition to a newly created sandwich pick in between the first and second rounds) as compensation.
This all but ends speculation that the Angels will pursue free agent closer Rafael Soriano. The full contract details for Downs are unknown, but the Angels will likely have over $14 million committed in 2011 to just three relievers: Fernando Rodney ($5.5 million), Takahashi ($3.8 million), and now Downs (estimated at $5 million).
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