1:57pm: The Angels formally announced the deal. Right-hander Brian Broderick will be sent to the Royals to complete the transaction.
Broderick, 28, has just 11 big league appearances to his credit with all of them coming in 2011. He was recently signed out of the Mexican League by KC.
1:55pm: The Angels are close to acquiring second baseman Johnny Giavotella, according to Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com (on Twitter). Giavotella was recently designated for assignment by the Royals. It’s not clear who is going to Kansas City in the deal, but it figures to be a minor trade (link). Gonzalez adds that the deal could be announced today.
Giavotella, 27, received a fairly lengthy look at second base for the Royals in both 2011 and 2012 but combined to bat just .242/.271/.340 in 376 plate appearances. He’s received shorter call-ups in each of the subsequent seasons but hasn’t fared much better at the plate; overall, Giavotella is a lifetime .238/.277/.344 hitter in the Majors.
A second-round pick out of the University of New Orleans in 2008, Giavotella does carry with him quite an impressive track record at the Triple-A level. In 1840 plate appearances there, he’s slashed .315/.384/.451. It should be noted, however, that those numbers have come in the very hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.
