Former Angel Joe Blanton buys a vineyard estate in Northern California

Major League Baseball pitcher Joe Blanton, who began his career with the Athletics and has played for both the Dodgers and Angels, has bought a vineyard estate in Calistoga, Calif., for $2.8 million.

Set among mature oaks on more than five acres, the home centers on a Cape Cod-inspired farmhouse with three bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms in 5,200 square feet. Formal gardens, courtyards, fountains and a vineyard create a picturesque backdrop for the grounds.

Within the two-story home are formal living and dining rooms, a kitchen with a wide center island and a wood-paneled office/library. There are fireplaces in the family and living rooms.

A guest house accessed by a long breezeway has two additional quarters for a total of five bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms.

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Over the course of 12 seasons, Blanton, 34, has pitched for six teams, including his current team, the Pittsburgh Pirates. The right-handed starter signed a two-year, $15-million contract with the Angels prior to 2013, but he was released by the team in 2014 after struggling in his first season.

He has compiled at 5-2 record with a 2.86 earned run average in 26 games this year, seeing time with the Royals and Pirates.

The house originally came on the market in 2013 for $4.25 million and was more recently priced at $2.95 million, records show. It previously sold for $1.37 million in 1999.

Gail Lane of St. Helena Real Estate was the listing agent. Joel Toller of Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley repped the buyer.

Twitter: @NJLeitereg

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