Wade LeBlanc

The Angels have brought back lefty Wade LeBlanc on a minor league deal, according to the MLB.com transactions page. He was recently lost to the Yankees through waivers, but elected free agency after he was outrighted off of New York’s 40-man roster.

LeBlanc, 29, made only one appearance during his tenure with the Yankees. On the year, he has allowed six earned runs through 7 1/3 MLB frames, with four strikeouts and three walks.

Presumably, the Halos will look to have LeBlanc stretch out as a starter in the minors, since that was reportedly the team’s hope at the time he was originally placed on outright waivers. At Triple-A for Los Angeles, he had tossed 53 2/3 innings with a 3.69 ERA and 7.2 K/9 against 2.3 BB/9.

The Yankees have claimed lefty Wade LeBlanc off waivers, the Angels announced. New York has moved Michael Pineda to the 60-day DL to create space on the 40-man roster, the club announced via press release.

The Halos had indicated they were hoping to pass LeBlanc through waivers so that he could stretch out and provide rotation depth. LeBlanc, 29, had thrown 6 1/3 big league innings this year in just one relief appearance, allowing four earned and striking out four while walking two. In nine starts at the Triple-A level this year, LeBlanc had logged 53 2/3 frames of 3.69 ERA ball, with 7.2 K/9 against 2.3 BB/9.

LeBlanc had primarily been a starter prior to 2012, but he has split his time between starting and relieving since. Across 423 1/3 career big league innings, LeBlanc has posted a 4.53 ERA with 6.1 K/9 against 3.3 BB/9.

The Angels have designated pitcher Wade LeBlanc for assignment, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times tweets. They have also purchased the contract of fellow pitcher Jarrett Grube from Triple-A Salt Lake.

LeBlanc agreed to a minor-league deal with the Angels in November. He began the season in Salt Lake’s rotation, posting a 3.69 ERA with 7.2 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 53 2/3 innings there. The Angels purchased his contract earlier this week, and he pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings in relief after Garrett Richards failed to get out of the first inning in the Angels’ 9-5 loss to the Athletics yesterday. Since LeBlanc pitched so many innings, he likely would not have been usable for a few more days, which might have been a factor in the Angels’ decision to designate him.

LeBlanc has a career 4.53 ERA with 6.1 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 in parts of seven seasons with the Padres, Marlins, Astros and Angels.

The Angels signed lefty Wade LeBlanc to a minor league deal with a spring training invite, according to the team's director of communications Eric Kay.  LeBlanc, 29, posted a 5.40 ERA, 5.4 K/9, 3.3 BB/9, 1.15 HR/9, and 39.1% groundball rate for the Marlins and Astros this year in 55 innings.

LeBlanc joined the Marlins a year ago from the Padres in a swap for catcher John Baker.  The Fish designated him for assignment in June, after which the Astros claimed him off waivers.  The Astros designated him a few weeks later, ultimately outrighting him to Triple-A.  He found his way back up, but was again designated and outrighted in August.

LeBlanc was drafted by the Padres in the second round in 2006 out of the University of Alabama.  The soft-tosser once projected as a future number three starter, but will now serve as Triple-A depth for the Halos.  He'll join Chris Volstad, signed by the Angels to a minor league deal last week.