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Angels cut Taylor Featherston, add left-handed reliever

Angels third baseman Taylor Featherston throws out a Twins batter attempting to bunt during the fourth inning on July 23, 2015.

Angels third baseman Taylor Featherston throws out a Twins batter attempting to bunt during the fourth inning on July 23, 2015.

(Alex Gallardo / Associated Press)
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Taylor Featherston had no business spending all of last season on the roster of a contender. But he did, because the Angels had to keep the infielder on the major league team all year or risk losing him to another team.

Featherston batted .162, the lowest of any major leaguer with at least 150 plate appearances. It wasn’t his fault, of course. He never had played above the double-A level. But Angels General Manager Jerry Dipoto thought Featherston could survive a year in the majors as a backup infielder, on the strength of a good glove, then resume his development in the minor leagues this year.

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Dipoto no longer is with the Angels. And, as of Friday, neither is Featherston.

The Angels designated him for assignment, clearing a roster spot for left-handed reliever Christian Friedrich, claimed on waivers from the Colorado Rockies.

Friedrich, 28, is a former first-round draft pick who failed to stick with the pitching-challenged Rockies as a starter, then failed to stick as a reliever. In 100 major league appearances, he has a 5.81 earned-run average.

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However, the Angels can find hope in that Friedrich’s FIP, used to rate pitchers by excluding factors out of their control, was a decent 4.04 last year, his first full season in the majors. Right-handed hitters batted .369 against him and left-handed hitters batted .268, meaning Friedrich will compete for a job as a left-handed bullpen specialist.

Featherston, 26, could remain in the Angels’ organization if he clears waivers.

bill.shaikin@latimes.com

Twitter: @BillShaikin

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