Signing of Neal Cotts to minor league deal gives Angels left-handed relief options

An Angels team that has gone two seasons without a left-handed relief specialist could have two to choose from this season after veteran Neal Cotts agreed to terms with the Angels on a minor league deal Sunday.

Cotts, 36, was released by the Houston Astros in late March, but he has a proven track record, having held left-handed hitters to a .239 average over 10 big-league seasons.

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He posted a 3.41 earned-run average and held left-handers to a .186 average, .243 on-base percentage and .330 slugging percentage in 63 1/3 innings for the Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins last season.

Cotts will open the season at triple-A Salt Lake, where he will be joined in the bullpen by 22-year-old left-hander Greg Mahle, who impressed the Angels with his 1.46 ERA in 12 spring appearances and was among the team’s final cuts Saturday night.

Manager Mike Scioscia said on Sunday that had the Angels decided to open the season with an eight-man bullpen instead of a seven-man bullpen, Mahle, a side-arm thrower who hasn’t pitched above double-A, would have made the team.

The Angels will open the regular season against the Chicago Cubs on Monday night with one left-hander, Jose Alvarez, in the bullpen. But Alvarez is not the type of specialist who is only called upon to face one or two batters. He is a former starter who often pitches multiple innings.

Follow Mike DiGiovanna on Twitter @MikeDiGiovanna