Angels sign veteran infield whiz John McDonald to minor league deal

Veteran infielder John McDonald, 39, has agreed to a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim that includes an invitation to spring training, the team confirmed on Thursday.

The well-traveled defensive standout, who has played for eight major league clubs in 15 years, will compete with Andrew Romine for the utility infield job. He will earn $850,000 in base salary plus incentives if he makes the team.

McDonald has never been a big offensive threat -- he has a .235 career average with a .274 on-base percentage, .327 slugging percentage, 28 home runs and 205 runs batted in and hit just .111 in 51 major league games for four different teams in 2013.

But McDonald has been one of the best defensive middle infielders in baseball for more than a decade, a player who would probably have won multiple Gold Glove Awards if he was a regular. Only once though, in 2007 with Toronto, did McDonald have more than 300 plate appearances in a season.

McDonald also has the rare distinction of being traded from the Blue Jays to the Detroit Tigers in July of 2005 for a player to be named later, who turned out to be himself. McDonald was sent from Detroit back to Toronto in November 2005.

ALSO:

WWE Hall of Famer Mae Young dies at 90

Cubs introduce new mascot: Clark the Bear

Wife of 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh slams his $8 pleated pants