Angels sign Dodgers castoff Mat Latos
Former Dodgers starting pitcher Mat Latos works against the San Diego Padres during a game on Sept. 3. Latos was signed Monday by the Angels.
The Angels, desperate for a healthy arm, signed pitcher Mat Latos on Monday, to what amounts to a one-week contract.
With the Angels hampered by injuries to their top two relievers (Huston Street and Joe Smith) and two of their starters (Matt Shoemaker and Jered Weaver), Latos provides a fresh arm for an exhausted pitching staff. He is expected to join the team immediately.
Latos has pitched one inning in the last 24 days. It was the 16th inning, and he was the 11th pitcher used by the Dodgers. He gave up the game-winning home run, and the Dodgers cut him the next day.
The Dodgers acquired Latos with much fanfare in a July 30 trade. In Latos, the Dodgers believed they had acquired a complement to Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke -- a possible No. 3 starter in the playoffs -- without sacrificing the prospects who would have been necessary to acquire Cole Hamels or David Price.
Latos posted a 6.66 earned-run average in six games for the Dodgers, alienating management not only with his performance but with his complaints about being lifted after four innings from a start in which he had given up four runs in the first two innings.
The Angels need only pay Latos the prorated portion of the major league minimum -- that is, about $19,600. He would be eligible to pitch in tiebreaker games -- the Angels enter play Monday one-half game out of a wild-card spot -- but would not be eligible to pitch in postseason games. He will be a free agent after the season.
The Dodgers still have not said who would start Game 3 of the playoffs, the start that could have gone to Latos.
Follow Bill Shaikin on Twitter @BillShaikin
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