Angels claim LF/1B Marc Krauss off waivers from Astros

The Angels’ first move of the winter meetings was a minor one, claiming left fielder/first baseman Marc Krauss off waivers from the Houston Astros on Monday.

The 6-foot-4, 245-pound Krauss hit .200 with a .274 on-base percentage, .341 slugging percentage, 10 home runs and 34 runs batted in over 119 games with the Astros in 2013 and 2014.

“I have a pretty good history with Marc going back to his time in college,” Angels General Manager Jerry Dipoto said. “He’s been a fantastic minor league performer throughout. At every level, he’s gotten on base and hit for power. He’s a corner utility bat from the left side. He’s a nice balance, roster-depth piece for us. If he’s partnered with [C.J.] Cron, he gives us a nice in-house [platoon] player.”

Krauss, 27, is considered a long shot to make the opening-day roster, but his left-handed bat could provide balance on a team whose primary first baseman (Albert Pujols) and designated hitter (C.J. Cron) bat right-handed. He also has two more option years, so he can be easily shuttled between triple-A and the big leagues.

Krauss was a second-round pick of Arizona in 2009, when Angels General Manager Jerry Dipoto was the Diamondbacks’ vice president in charge of player personnel.

In 548 games over six minor-league seasons, Krauss, who was traded from Arizona to Houston in 2012, hit .278 with a .375 on-base percentage, .479 slugging percentage, 78 homers and 325 RBIs.