Angels sign Joel Pineiro to two-year contract

Posted on January 20, 2010

Joel Pineiro of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches during the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California on April 13, 2008. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

 

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are keeping things interesting in the off season as they continue to re-tool their ballclub by signing Joel Pineiro, the top free-agent pitcher left on the market this evening, to a two-year deal. The contract looks to be for about $16 million for two years. Pineiro went 15-12 with a 3.49 ERA for the St. Louis Cardinals last season.

Pineiro showed great promise when he came up with the Mariners in 2000 and out together his best season in 2003 when he went 16-11. It went all bad for him up in Seattle after that, however as he dipped to consecutive years of 6-11, 7-11 and 8-13. He has a lifetime record of 87-79 and hopes to continue the form he showed in St. Louis in 2009.

This is a big signing for the Angels, who need to replace the departed John Lackey in their starting rotation and try to keep up with the Mariners, who have added Cliff Lee to their starting staff. One thing is for sure, I will be heading out to one of the best Cactus League parks in Arizona in March to shoot Pineiro when I head down to spring training. The American League West is going to be a real good battle between the incumbent Angels and on-the-rise Mariners, as the Rangers hang tough and the A’s try to be whatever they are trying to be.