ANAHEIM -- The Angels remained active on the waiver wire on Tuesday, claiming infielder Nolan Fontana from the Astros. It's the fifth waiver claim Angels general manager Billy Eppler has made this offseason, and the first involving a position player.
Fontana, 25, played 106 games with Triple-A Fresno in 2016 and hit .195/.268/.262 with 15 doubles and three home runs. Fontana primarily played shortstop, while also logging innings at second base. He's also played third base in the Minors.
The Angels are set at shortstop with Andrelton Simmons and at third with Yunel Escobar, while the mix at second includes Cliff Pennington, Gregorio Petit and Kaleb Cowart.
In a corresponding roster move, catcher Juan Graterol was designated for assignment.
Fontana was a second-round pick by the Astros in the 2012 Draft out of the University of Florida. In five seasons in the Minors, he's produced a .237/.379/.347 slash line over 452 games and 1,933 plate appearances.
Fontana is the grandson of Lew Burdette, who pitched in the Major Leagues for 18 seasons from 1950-67 and was the Most Valuable Player in the '57 World Series for the Milwaukee Braves.
The Angels have previously added right-hander Kirby Yates off waivers from the Yankees and right-hander Vicente Campos off waivers from the D-backs.
The Angels also claimed right-hander Blake Parker from the Yankees and right-hander Abel De Los Santos from the Reds, but both pitchers have since been designated for assignment.