Angels sign utility man Cliff Pennington to two-year, $3.75-million deal

The Angels signed veteran utility man Cliff Pennington to a two-year, $3.75-million deal Tuesday, a move that will fill an important void on the roster and allow former Rule 5 pick Taylor Featherston time to develop at triple-A Salt Lake next season.

The switch-hitting Pennington, 31, can play shortstop, second base, third base and the corner outfield spots. The eight-year veteran, who spent his first five seasons at Oakland, split 2015 between Arizona and Toronto, batting .210 with three home runs, six doubles, 21 runs batted in and 24 runs in 105 games.

Pennington will make $1.5 million in 2016 and $2.25 million in 2017. A strong defender at all three infield spots, he has a career .245 average, .313 on-base percentage, .344 slugging percentage, 30 homers, 211 RBIs, 110 doubles, 19 triples and 80 stolen bases in 794 games.

The Angels had to carry Featherston, who had not played above the double-A level before 2015, on their big league roster last season or risk losing him to Colorado, his previous organization, on a waiver claim.

Though he usually played well defensively, Featherston was often overmatched at the plate, batting .162 with 46 strikeouts and seven walks in 154 at-bats.

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