ANAHEIM -- The Angels signed veteran lefty reliever Neal Cotts to a Minor League contract Sunday, adding Triple-A depth just before the regular season.
Cotts, 36, made 68 appearances with the Brewers and Twins last season, finishing with a 3.41 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP and a 2.64 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The 10-year veteran held opposing left-handed hitters to a .573 OPS, though his splits are pretty even throughout his career.
Cotts has a 3.96 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP and a 2.17 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his career, which has been spent with five teams. He signed a Minor League deal with the Astros in late February, but was released March 25 -- one day before his opt-out -- despite finishing Grapefruit League play with a 2.45 ERA in seven appearances.
Cotts joins what appears to be a solid Salt Lake Bees bullpen, alongside Al Alburquerque, Javy Guerra, Deolis Guerra, Greg Mahle, A.J. Achter and others. The Angels recently signed starter Kyle Kendrick and outfielder Shane Robinson to Minor League contracts, while also trading for former Orioles Minor League starter Chris Jones.
Worth noting
• Jered Weaver is slated to pitch in a simulated game at Angel Stadium on Tuesday, which proably means the veteran right-hander's first regular-season start won't come until next Sunday against the Rangers, at the earliest. Weaver can also be backed up to start next Monday in Oakland, the first day the Angels need a fifth starter.
• Righty Cory Rasmus will begin the season as the long reliever, pitching multiple innings any time manager Mike Scioscia needs length out of the bullpen. Lefty Jose Alvarez, who can also pitch multiple innings, will be used to help hold leads, Scioscia said. Alvarez, a converted starter, will not be a lefty specialist.