Angels add veteran righty Mattheus to 'pen

ANAHEIM - The Angels added some bullpen depth Friday, in the Major Leagues and in Triple-A.

Hours before the game, they optioned first baseman/outfielder Efren Navarro to Triple-A Salt Lake and selected the contract of veteran reliever Ryan Mattheus, giving themselves an eight-man bullpen because Joe Smith and Huston Street had each pitched in three straight games.

Minutes before first pitch, they acquired right-handed reliever Chad Smith from the A's for cash considerations, a move that gave them added depth at Triple-A Salt Lake, partly because Mattheus is out of options.

Smith, recently designated for assignment, was a teammate of Grant Green at the University of Southern California. The 25-year-old right-hander has appeared in 12 Major League games the last two years and posted a 3.45 ERA in the Minors last year, adding a 1.36 WHIP and a 3.64 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Smith, who has options left, sits 91 to 95 mph with a pretty good sinker that generates ground balls.

"He gives us continued depth in our Triple-A bullpen," Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto said.

Mattheus appeared in 145 games for the Nationals from 2011-14, posting a 3.60 ERA, a 1.37 WHIP and a 1.49 strikeout-to-walk ratio. For the Salt Lake Bees this year, the 31-year-old right-hander got back to throwing his two-seam fastball inside on right-handed hitters and got results, posting a 2.84 ERA while walking two and striking out 12 in 12 2/3 innings in the Pacific Coast League.

"I just felt like I had a very good Spring Training, feel very comfortable up here, the guys are great," said Mattheus, who was signed to a Minor League contract over the offseason. "It is nice to be back here, and hopefully help this team win."

Worth noting
• The Angels didn't call up Cam Bedrosian, who does have options, because he pitched two innings Thursday night.

"And Ryan's throwing the ball well," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He had one really bad outing down there, but outside of that, he's been good."

• Right-hander Cory Rasmus, who had surgery for a core injury in late March, is rehabbing in Arizona and was recently cleared to start his throwing program. But Scioscia said Rasmus "still has some work ahead of him." He won't be back until sometime in June, at the earliest.

• Angels bench coach Dino Ebel coached third base for a second straight game Friday, while Gary DiSarcina was away from the team to attend a funeral. Ebel was the Angels' third-base coach for eight years before being promoted prior to the 2014 season.