Angels sign David Freese and Kevin Jepsen to avoid arbitration
The Angels avoided arbitration with new third baseman David Freese and returning reliever Kevin Jepsen on Friday, signing Freese for $5.05 million and Jepsen for $1.46 million.
Both players settled at the exact midpoints of the difference between the salary figures they and the team exchanged in mid-January. It appeared the case of Freese, acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in the Peter Bourjos trade in November, might go to a hearing because the sides were $1.9 million apart, a considerable gap.
Freese, the National League championship series and World Series most valuable player in 2011 for the Cardinals, hit .262 with a .340 on-base percentage, .381 slugging percentage, nine home runs and 60 runs batted last season.
Jepsen went 1-3 with a 4.50 earned run average in 45 games and underwent a season-ending appendectomy in late August.
With the January signings of closer Ernesto Frieri ($3.8 million) and reliever Fernando Salas ($870,000), the Angels have come to terms with all four of their arbitration-eligible players this winter.
ALSO:
A return of L.A. Rams? Owner said to buy possible stadium site
Clippers’ Chris Paul is an All-Star reserve but DeAndre Jordan is not
Landon Donovan seems a lock for World Cup team, but role is up in air
More to Read
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.