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Angels Reach Agreement With Scott Downs
The Angels have agreed to terms on a three-year, $15MM contract with Scott Downs. Peter Gammons was the first to report the numbers of the deal, while FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal adds that the deal is pending a physical and Downs can earn up to an extra $1MM based on games finished (both Twitter links). Downs is represented by CAA.
Downs has quietly been one of the AL's best relievers in recent years, posting a 2.36 ERA, a 7.8 K/9 rate and a 2.63 K/BB ratio over the last four seasons in Toronto.
Since Downs is a Type A free agent, the Blue Jays will receive two draft picks for the left-hander --- one a first-round compensation pick, and a second-round pick from Los Angeles since the Halos' first-rounder is protected. If the Angels were to sign a higher-ranked Type A free agent (such as Adrian Beltre or Rafael Soriano), then the pick they send to Toronto will be bumped down a round.
The Halos have now added two solid lefty arms to their bullpen in Downs and Hisanori Takahashi, who was signed last week. GM Tony Reagins tells Dan Woike of the Orange County Register that the Angels are now satisfied with their bullpen and rotation and they won't be adding any more relievers (Twitter links), which would seem to take the club out of the Soriano sweepstakes. If Soriano is too expensive, L.A. could be satisfied with Fernando Rodney as their closer, or perhaps they're looking at a Rodney/Downs righty-lefty closing platoon, which would explain Downs' incentive bonus for games finished.
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