Angels sign Cliff Pennington to 2 year deal

[Brent Maguire]

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Today the #Angels have signed free agent INF Cliff Pennington to a two-year contract.

 

[vladdy#27]

@jcrasnick: #Angels announce they've agreed to 2-yr deal with Cliff Pennington. $1.5M and $2.25M base salaries, plus performance bonuses.

[red321]

didn't he retire 5 years ago?

[Stradling]

Good defensive player? Can back up at SS and play 2nd base.

[Aaronkv]

Backup?

[Ray McKigney]

Solid .245 career BA. Nice.

[jsnpritchett]

Yay, I guess?  Random move, really.

[red321]

yes...this year's Featherston...without the pinch running

Edited November 17, 2015 by red321

[laagamer]

didn't he retire 5 years ago?

No, that was shitty reporting. He actually died.

[Brent Maguire]

This is a fine move. His 82 wRC+ isn't bad for a bench guy and he's an above average defender. 

 

Notice a trend with Eppler so far? He's really valuing his defense. 

[Chuck]

Good defensive player? Can back up at SS and play 2nd base.

 

 

Great defensive player, can play both SS and 2B. 

 

Blue Jays fan at work really liked him and wanted to re-sign him from what he saw.

[Chuck]

yes...this year's Featherston...without the pinch running

 

Featherston will spend the entire season in AAA barring an injury. 

[Chuck]

Yay, I guess?  Random move, really.

 

One of the priorities this off-season was getting a utility infielder. 

 

Good move as he can play 2B, SS and 3B.

[Oz27]

Probably an upgrade over Featherston. It looks like he's lost his ability to swipe a few bases over the past few seasons though.

[TobiasFunke]

The dude that played bass in Metallica??

[totdprods]

I dig. This is exactly the player we needed.

If nothing else changes, he can step in for Gia or Cowart/Kubitza if either fall, and God forbid, would be at least solid defense if Simmons was injured.

If we acquire a 3B or 2B, he's the perfect bench player.

[Tank]

at least we didn't trade heaney and skaggs to get him.

[Tank]

The dude that played bass in Metallica??

 

no, man, you're thinking of the keyboardist for earth, wind & fire.

[Mark68]

The dude that played bass in Metallica??

No no no.

 

That was Cliff BURTON. Killed in a bus crash in Sweden while on tour.

 

Interesting bit about the crash from Wikipedia:

 

During the European leg of the Damage Inc. tour in support of Master of Puppets, the band complained that the sleeping cubicles on their tour bus were unsatisfactory and uncomfortable. To decide who received pick of the bunks, Kirk Hammett and Burton drew cards.^[15] On the evening of September 26, 1986, Burton won the game with an ace of spades, thereby getting the first choice of bunk and pointed at Hammett and exclaimed "I want your bunk!". Hammett replied "Fine, take my bunk, I'll sleep up front, it's probably better up there anyway". Burton was sleeping shortly before 7 am on September 27 when, according to the driver, the bus skidded off the road (the E4, 12 miles north of Ljungby),^[16] and flipped onto the grass in Kronoberg County^[17] Burton was thrown through the window of the bus, which fell on top of him, resulting in his death.

 

 

As for Pennington, it's clear that Eppler is putting a premium on run prevention.

 

So let me be the first to welcome Jason Heyward to the Angels.

[nate]

The dude that played bass in Metallica??

 

I know what you mean but Cliff Burton and Cliff Pennington aren't even close.

[Docwaukee]

we need bench help desperately.  this helps.  

[Docwaukee]

AO nicknames

 

Cliff Claven

 

Pennington bear

[AngelsLakersFan]

So Pennington looks like the replacement for Featherston, backing up at every infield position. He should hit a lot better (not that he could possibly hit worse) and my hope is he won't come with holes pre-drilled in his glove.

 

Kind of surprised they spent the money here, even if it is just a few million.

Edited November 17, 2015 by AngelsLakersFan

[m0nkey]

Damn he got a 2 year deal. Good for him

[Chuck]

Damn he got a 2 year deal. Good for him

 

Utility guys was desperately needed last year. We had to rely on a rookie in Featherston, which was undesirable. 

 

We got our John McDonald for the next two years. I like it.