Angels sign Hiroyuki Kobayashi to minor league contract

The Angels have invited Japanese pitcher Hiroyuki Kobayashi to Spring Training as a reliever, reports Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. He is signed to a minor league contract.

The 34-year old right-handed pitcher last pitched in the Japan Pacific League in 2011 with the Hanshin Tigers. He threw 39 innings, striking out 45 and walking just 19. He amassed those numbers over 45 relief appearances.

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This is the second minor-move that the Angels have made over the last 24 hours, with the other being that they signed Bill Hall to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training.

Kobayashi will likely compete for a middle reliever job, but if he does not make the team will still provide decent Triple-A pitching depth.

The Angels are at this point in the offseason just filling out their roster, after making another big splash when they acquired outfielder Josh Hamilton via free agency.