Luke Agrees to Terms With Angels

The Angels, looking to add some left-handed power to their bench, have agreed to terms on a one-year, $250,000 contract with outfielder Matt Luke, a former Dodger who was a teammate of Angel catcher Phil Nevin at El Dorado High School in Placentia.

Luke’s deal will also include a triple-A contract in case he doesn’t make the Angels this spring. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Luke, who can also play first base, hit .236 with 12 home runs and 34 runs batted in in 102 games with the Dodgers as a part-time starter in 1998.

Luke, 28, was waived by the Dodgers May 29 and claimed by Cleveland on June 9, but he had only two at-bats with the Indians before being waived June 15. The Dodgers then claimed Luke June 19.

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In a scheduling move sure to raise the ire of some Angel players, the team will stop in Erie, Pa., on Monday, June 21, to play an exhibition game against the club’s new double-A affiliate, the Erie SeaWolves.

The Angels have a day game in New York on Sunday, June 20, and must be in Seattle for a night game on Tuesday, June 22, so the exhibition will wipe out a day off in Seattle. The game in Erie is scheduled for 5 p.m. (EST). Erie replaces Midland, Texas, the Angels’ double-A team for the last 13 seasons.