Report: Phillies sign Ernesto Frieri to minor league deal
The Philadelphia Phillies have reportedly signed former Los Angeles Angels closer Ernesto Frieri to a minor league contract:
Frieri will attempt to get back on track after a rough past few seasons.
After a midseason 2012 trade to the Angels, Frieri immediately became their closer, pitching in 67 games and saving 23 while maintaining a 2.32 ERA. He was solid again in 2013, saving 37 games, but saw his ERA balloon to 3.80.
The Angels dealt him to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2014 in a "change of scenery deal" for Jason Grilli. While that trade worked out for the Angels, Frieri pitched to a 10.13 ERA in 14 games.
The following offseason, Frieri signed a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, where he owned a 4.63 ERA in 22 games pitched.
Phillies GM Matt Klentak was the assistant general manager for the Angels, Frieri's most productive seasons.
If the 30-year-old is able to piece it together, the Phillies could look to plug him into the ninth inning replacing the departed Ken Giles.
