ANAHEIM, Calif. – Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto likes to say he's always on the lookout for a good relief pitcher. He finally may have found one.
The Angels, whose bullpen ranks among the worst in the American League, traded for right-hander Ernesto Frieri, who is expected to join the team Friday from the San Diego Padres. To make room for Frieri, the Angels
optioned reliever Kevin Jepsen to triple-A Salt Lake.
In exchange for Frieri, the Angels sent infielder Alexi Amarista and right-hander Donn Roach to San Diego. Dipoto said the team will make a roster move Friday to open a spot for Frieri.
It's likely that either Kevin Jepsen, who has a 10.29 ERA, or David Carpenter, 4.05 ERA, will be sent to the minors to make room for Frieri. The Angels' bullpen began Thursday night with an 0-6 record and 5.08 ERA, third worst in the AL.
Dipoto said Frieri, who had a 1-0 record and 2.31 ERA with the Padres and struck out 18 batters in 11 2/3 innings, will fill a late-innings role with the Angels. In four seasons in San Diego, Fieri totaled 137 strikeouts in 108 1/3 innings and held opposing batters to a .199 batting average.
"We're going to give him an opportunity to pitch himself into a role," Dipoto said. "What (the trade) does right now is give us another experienced and effective arm to put down in the bullpen and allow us to create a mix toward the end of a game."
Amarista, 23, made the Angels' big league roster at the end of spring training but was sent to Triple-A Salt Lake when the team called up Carpenter on April 13. With second baseman Howie Kendrick and shortstop Erick Aybar signed to long-term contracts and infielder Jean Segura being groomed in the minors, Amarista became available.
Roach, 22, was a third-round draft pick by the Angels in 2010 and was 5-0 with a 2.16 ERA this season at Class A Inland Empire.
"I feel like we gave up two legitimate major league prospects," Dipoto said. "The impact that they'll make, that's for them to decide as they move down the road. We felt like it was a fair price to pay to address our needs, and that comes with the understanding that Ernesto Frieri has five years of control."
Frieri, 26, throws in the low 90s with good movement.
"He misses bats," Dipoto said. "He's got a history of missing bats. He's very good at it. He's been in a middle (innings) role with the Padres. It's the opportunity to go find a cost-effective, effective on the field, part of a solution. We believe he can be part of what we're doing here, not just now but as we move forward."
