Smith Placed on 15-Day Disabled List

Angel closer Lee Smith, suffering from swelling of his surgically repaired right knee, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday.

Smith, the all-time saves leader with 471, injured his knee stepping into a hole while on an off-season hunting trip in Louisiana. He had surgery to repair the patella tendon Nov. 12 and has not regained the form that enabled him to save 37 games last season.

He appeared in each of the Angels’ first two games, mopping up during their 15-9 loss to Milwaukee on Tuesday and blowing a save opportunity in Wednesday’s 3-2 victory over the Brewers in 11 innings. He has a 9.00 earned-run average in two innings.

Team medical director Lewis Yocum drained fluid from Smith’s knee and he was put on the disabled list for only the second time in his 17-year career. Smith suffered a pulled groin in 1986 as a member of the Chicago Cubs.

With Smith sidelined, the closer’s role will go to Troy Percival. As Smith’s set-up man last season, Percival was 3-2 with a team-leading 1.95 ERA. Opposing batters hit .147 against Percival, lowest of any American League reliever.

“Role-wise it doesn’t matter to me,” Percival said. “I know we’re a better team with [Smith] than without him. I know I can close. I’m not worried about that.”

To replace Smith, the Angels purchased the contract of knuckleball-throwing reliever Dennis Springer from triple-A Vancouver. They will announce another move to make room for Springer, 1-0 with a 3.66 ERA in nine spring training games, on the 40-man roster before tonight’s game against the Chicago White Sox.