Angels sign reliever Ryan Mattheus to minor league deal

The Angels have signed former Washington Nationals reliever Ryan Mattheus to a minor league deal with an invitation to major league spring-training camp, General Manager Jerry Dipoto confirmed Wednesday.

Mattheus, a 31-year-old right-hander, was a key part of a bullpen that helped the Nationals win the National League East title in 2012, going 5-3 with a 2.85 earned-run average in 66 games, striking out 41 and walking 19 in 66 1/3 innings.

But the Sacramento native struggled in 2013, pitching to a 6.37 ERA in 35 1/3 innings and breaking a bone in his right hand when he punched a locker after a bad outing.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Mattheus suffered a rib-cage injury last spring and spent most of 2014 at triple-A Syracuse, pitching to a 5.80 ERA in 40 1/3 innings. He threw only 8 2/3 innings for the Nationals and was let go after the season.

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