The Los Angeles Angels were a little late settling with their arbitration-eligible players this offseason. The team agreed with their third baseman on Wednesday, but will enter a hearing with one of their starting pitchers.
The good news is that the Angels avoided arbitration with David Freese earlier today after the two agreed to a one-year, $6.425 million salary for 2015, according to Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com. Freese filed for $7.6 million and Los Angeles countered at $5.25 million, and the two ultimately arrived at the midpoint.
Unfortunately for Freese, it was reported the team had no interest in offering the 31-year-old a contract extension because they were searching for a third baseman they could bring up in their system earlier this offseason. They eventually acquired prospect third baseman Kyle Kubitza from the Atlanta Braves.
In his first season with the Angels in 2014 (after being traded by the St. Louis Cardinals), Freese batted .260/.321/.383 with 53 runs scored, 10 home runs and 55 RBIs in 134 games.
On the other hand, the Angels have failed to reach an agreement with starting pitcher Garrett Richards and the arbitration hearing for the 26-year-old has been set for February 11, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. Richards qualified as a Super 2 player because he accumulated less than three years of service time (but more than two) and ranked within the top 22% of all two-year players in terms of service time, according to FanGraphs.
The former first round draft pick excelled in his first season as a full-time starter and finished 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 26 starts before he tore his patellar tendon in late August. General manager Jerry Dipoto is optimistic the right-hander will be ready by Opening Day, but if not, he's expected to return some time in April.
Richards filed for a $3.8 million salary and the Angels countered at $2.4 million.
Aside from Richards, the team has to agree with outfielder Matt Joyce to be done with their arbitration-eligible players.
