St. Petersburg, FL (SportsNetwork.com) – The Tampa Bay Rays have signed
pitcher Ernesto Frieri to a one-year contract.
Financial terms for the former Angels closer were not disclosed.
Frieri split last season with the Angels and Pittsburgh Pirates after losing
his closer role in Anaheim. He finished the year 1-4 with 11 saves and a 7.34
ERA in 48 games.
The 29-year-old right-hander notched 37 saves in 41 chances for the Angels
during the 2013 season and has 71 saves in 81 opportunities during a six-year
career with the Pirates, Angels and San Diego Padres.
Frieri has a career record of 10-13 with a 3.46 ERA in 276 appearances, all
out of the bullpen.
The Rays also designated infielder Sean Rodriguez for assignment to open a
spot on the 40-man roster.
Rodriguez batted .228 with 40 homers and 172 RBI over the past five seasons
with the Rays. In 2014, he hit only .211, his lowest average during his Tampa
Bay tenure, but set career highs with 12 homers and 41 RBI.
