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Angels reach deal with Richards, other arbitration eligibles
LOS ANGELES (AP) Pitchers Garrett Richards, Tyler Skaggs and Matt Shoemaker agreed to one-year deals with the Los Angeles Angels along with the team's other seven arbitration-eligible players.
Richards, the team's ace, agreed at $7.3 million. He made one start last April before missing the next five months while rehabbing a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. The 29-year-old right-hander has made just six starts in each of the past two seasons because of elbow injuries. Richards earned $6.85 last season and can become a free agent after the 2018 season.
Skaggs agreed at $1,875,000 plus awards bonuses. The left-hander was 2-6 with a 4.55 ERA last season, when he missed three months because of injury. He made $555,000.
Shoemaker receives $4,125,000. Like Richards and Skaggs, he was derailed by injury last season when he was 6-3 with a 4.52 ERA in 14 starts. The right-hander took a line drive off his head in early September and missed the rest of the season. He is healthy again and expected to be ready for the start of spring training. Shoemaker made $3,325,000.
First baseman C.J. Cron agreed to $2.3 million. He batted .248 with 16 home runs and 56 RBIs in 100 games. Cron's at-bats could be limited with Luis Valbuena expected to start at first base against right-handers and Albert Pujols getting the nod when Japanese star Shohei Ohtani starts at designated hitter. Cron made $565,000.
Catcher Martin Maldonado settled at $3.9 million. He appeared in a career-high 138 games last season after being thrust into a starting role and winning his first Gold Glove award. His offense abilities appeared to suffer with a .221 average and 38 RBIs. The Angels signed Rene Rivera to keep Maldonado fresh this season. Maldonado earned $1,725,000.
Left-hander Jose Alvarez agreed at $1.05 million. He had a 3.88 ERA while making 64 appearances for the third straight season as a key member of the bullpen. He earned $557,000.
Right-hander Cam Bedrosian got $1.1 million. He was 6-5 with a 4.43 ERA in 48 appearances while struggling with injuries and tailing off late in the season. He earned $555,000.
Right-hander J.C. Ramirez reached agreement at $1.9 million. He was 11-10 with a 4.15 ERA in 24 starts - second-most on the team. He made $550,000.
Earlier in the week, the Angels reached a deal with left-hander Andrew Heaney.
Heaney agreed to $800,000 plus performance bonuses. He made his season debut in mid-August after rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Heaney struggled in five starts, giving up 17 runs in 21 2/3 innings, before going back on the disabled list in September with a shoulder impingement.
Right-handed reliever Blake Wood will earn $1.45 million and right-hander Blake Parker $1.8 million.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
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