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The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have signed right-hander Mike Ekstrom to a minor league deal, a source has confirmed to MLBDailyDish.com. The 29-year old will report to Triple-A Salt Lake.
Ekstrom had an opt-out clause in his contract with the Oakland Athletics that allowed him to ask for his release on June 15th, and exercised it on Saturday, as Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported. In 21 appearances out of the bullpen for Triple-A Sacramento on the season, he is 1-1 with a 5.10 ERA and 8.1 K/9 ratio.
After being selected in the fourth round of the 2004 draft by the San Diego Padres, Ekstrom has spent time in four organizations. In 51 major league appearances with the Padres (2008-2009), Rays (2010-2011), and Rockies (2012), the reliever is 0-3 with a 5.61 ERA in 61 innings of work.
He becomes the second pitcher the Angels have added to Salt Lake this week, joining lefty Dustin Richardson, who was signed out of the Atlantic League on Friday.
