A's sign veteran Blanton to Minor League deal

OAKLAND -- The A's added pitching depth by way of a familiar face on Monday, reuniting with right-hander Joe Blanton on a Minor League deal.

Blanton, released by the Angels last week, will report to Triple-A Sacramento and join the River Cats' rotation.

Originally taken by the A's in the first round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Blanton compiled a 47-46 record and 4.25 ERA in five seasons with Oakland. He was traded to Philadelphia on July 17, 2008, and pitched in two World Series for the Phillies.

The 33-year-old landed with the Angels at the end of 2012 as a free agent and struggled to the tune of a 2-14 record and 6.04 ERA in 28 appearances (20 starts) last year. He then pitched to a 7.08 ERA in five spring appearances before his release, which cost the Angels $8.5 million.

Blanton returns to Sacramento for the first time since 2004 and adds to a list of readily available starters that already includes Josh Lindblom and Arnold Leon.