LOS ANGELES (AP)—Free-agent reliever Brian Fuentes and the Los Angeles Angels reached agreement on a two-year, $17.5 million deal Wednesday, giving the AL West champions a replacement for record-setting closer Francisco Rodriguez.
Fuentes gets $8.5 million next season and $9 million in 2010. There’s a club option for $9 million in 2011.
“He should solidify the back part of our bullpen,” Angels general manager Tony Reagins said on a conference call. “We pitched well last year, we expect to pitch well again.”
Fuentes, a 33-year-old lefty, was a three-time NL All-Star who went 1-5 with 30 saves in 34 chances and a 2.73 ERA for Colorado this season. He had a 1.75 ERA after the All-Star break, when he saved 16 games in as many chances.
“I’m definitely happy to have the opportunity to play for a team that I’ve watched for a long time,” said Fuentes, who grew up in Merced, Calif., and still lives there. “My 2-year-old’s excited. He can’t wait to go to Disneyland.”
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Regarding Angels manager Mike Scioscia, Fuentes said: “From what I hear from other guys, he’s a player’s manager.”
Rodriguez posted 62 saves for the Angels this season to break Bobby Thigpen’s single-season record of 57. K-Rod signed a three-year, $37 million contract with the New York Mets three weeks ago.
“The only pressure I have is what I put on myself,” Fuentes replied when asked if following Rodriguez would make his life more difficult. “I know I can be successful.”
Reagins said plans call for Fuentes to close, with Scot Shields or Jose Arredondo serving as the Angels’ setup man. The Angels have several other experienced relievers including Darren Oliver and Justin Speier, who were both teammates of Fuentes in Colorado.
“It’s going to be nice to have a little bit of a comfort zone,” said Fuentes, who has a 17-27 career record with 115 saves and a 3.41 ERA in 438 appearances for the Seattle Mariners and Rockies. He left the Rockies as their all-time career saves leader and finished as Colorado’s all-time leader in strikeouts by a reliever as well.
Fuentes was drafted by Seattle in 1995 and made his major league debut in 2001. The Mariners traded him to Colorado after the 2001 season.
Fuentes became the Rockies’ closer in 2005, going 2-5 with 31 saves in 34 chances and a 2.91 ERA in 78 games. He was 3-4 with 30 saves in 36 chances and a 3.44 ERA in 2006 and 3-5 with 20 saves in 27 chances and a 3.08 ERA in 64 games in 2007. The Rockies advanced to the World Series that year, but Fuentes was replaced as the team’s closer in midseason by Manny Corpas. Fuentes got his job back early this season when Corpas faltered.
“Once you get there, all the other bad seasons just wash away,” Fuentes said of playing in the World Series. “You don’t make it to the World Series every year. To have an opportunity to do that is very appealing.”
Fuentes said the Rockies never made a formal offer to keep him.
“It was a great experience all the way around,” he said of his seven years in Colorado. “I was fortunate to have the opportunity to pitch quite a bit and work my way up.”
Fuentes became the third free agent to join the Angels this offseason, joining returnees Oliver and outfielder Juan Rivera. Oliver, who joined the Angels in 2007, accepted salary arbitration. Rivera, who joined the Angels in 2005, signed a three-year, $12.75 million contract.
The Angels had hoped to re-sign Mark Teixeira, but the switch-hitting first baseman agreed to an eight-year contract worth $180 million with the New York Yankees last week.
“We’re going to keep our options open and look for other opportunities to make our club better,” Reagins said. “Whatever that might be, we’re going to attack it.”
Reagins said there wasn’t a clear-cut plan regarding whether the Angels would pursue a starting pitcher or a position player.
