Brandon Lyon Elects Free Agency

Right-hander Brandon Lyon, who had been pitching for the Angels’ Triple-A affiliate in Salt Lake, has elected free agency, according to the Pacific Coast League transactions page.

Lyon, 34, turned in a 4.08 ERA in 17 2/3 innings, though he posted just a 9-to-8 K/BB ratio in that time and surrendered 33 hits. A lot of those hits were likely the function of poor luck, as his .429 batting average on balls in play for the Bees would almost certainly have regressed over a larger sample.

The 12-year Major League veteran spent most of the 2013 season pitching out of the Mets’ bullpen, totaling a 4.98 ERA with 6.0 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 34 1/3 innings of work. Lyon has a career 4.16 ERA in 681 1/3 innings with the D’Backs, Astros, Blue Jays, Mets, Tigers and Red Sox. He’s pitched in both a setup role and a ninth-inning role, having served as the Diamondbacks’ closer for two different stints and served as Houston’s closer in 2010.