Rays sign Michael Kohn to major league contract

The Tampa Bay Rays' have added reliever Michael Kohn to their bullpen, signing the right-hander to a one-year major league contract on Thursday, per a club announcement. The 28-year-old Kohn was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Angels in early September, but opted for free agency rather than being outrighted to Triple-A.

Kohn has been serviceable for the Angels over the past five years, four of which were spent at the big league level (he spent the entirety of the 2012 reason recovering from Tommy John surgery). In 110.1 career innings, he has a 3.67 ERA, 104 ERA+, 4.93 FIP, 8.7 K/9, 6.0 BB/9, and 1.0 WAR. In 2014, he posted a career-best 3.04 ERA and 9.9 K/9 in 23.2 innings pitched.

While Kohn isn't exactly an impact reliever, he should slot in nicely as the 11th or 12th man in Tampa Bay's bullpen. The Rays' relief crop was rather lackluster in 2014, finishing in the middle of the pack in WAR (16th), FIP (18th), and ERA (20th).