Angels acquire LHP Brandon Sisk from Kansas City

ANAHEIM, CA – The Angels Wednesday exercised the 2013 option on right-hander Ervin Santana and subsequently traded him along with cash considerations to the Kansas City Royals for left-handed reliever Brandon Sisk. Today’s announcement was made by General Manager Jerry Dipoto.

Sisk, 27, spent the 2012 campaign with Triple-A Omaha and posted a 3-2 record with a 2.54 ERA (67.1 IP – 19 ER) and eight saves in 50 appearances. The native of Palestine, TX led the Storm Chasers relievers in saves, innings pitched, appearances and strikeouts (73).

Since signing as a minor league free agent in July, 2008, Sisk has compiled a 17-15 record and 2.75 ERA (291.1 IP - 99 ER) with 317 strikeouts in 190 games (2 starts). Prior to signing with the Royals, Sisk pitched for the Bay Area Toros in the Continental Baseball League in 2007-2008.

Sisk, who graduated from Elkhart (Texas) High and later attended Azusa (CA) Pacific University, held Triple-A opponents to a .148 average against in 2011, including a .125 (9/72) mark vs. right-handed batters with Omaha in 2011. He tossed 14 scoreless innings from June 11 to July 5, a total of 11 appearances. He is currently pitching for the Navegantes del Magallanes of the Venezuelan Winter League and has appeared in three games, allowing three runs on three hits.

Santana, 29, has spent his entire career with the Angels since signing as a free agent, Sept. 2, 2000. He concluded his eighth major league season with a 9-13 record and 5.16 ERA (178 IP – 102 ER) over 30 starts in 2012. His 96-80 career record (4.33 ERA) ranks seventh on the club’s all-time win list. The native of San Cristobal, DR recorded his 50th home victory, Sept. 21st vs. Chicago, matching his career-high with 11 strikeouts. During the final two months of 2012, he posted a 4-3 record and 3.63 ERA (62 IP – 25 ER) while allowing 45 hits in that span, fewest in the American League with a minimum of 60 IP.

Santana tossed the eighth individual no-hitter in Angels’ history, and the first since Mike Witt’s perfect game (1984) on July 27, 2011 in Cleveland. It was the first no-hitter in the history of Progressive Field and one of three no-hitters during the year (Justin Verlander & Francisco Liriano). He became the sixth Dominican native to toss a no-hitter, joining Juan Marichal (1963), Ramon Martinez (1995), Jose Jimenez (1999), Ubaldo Jimenez (2010) and Liriano.