Kurt Suzuki deal with Angels

ANAHEIM – The Angels have increased their catch depth by agreeing to a one-year $ 1.5 million deal with veteran Kurt Suzuki, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Friday. However, the Angels have not made an official announcement. Suzuki thinks to split the duties behind the plate with Max Stassi. Anthony

ANAHEIM – The Angels have increased their catch depth by agreeing to a one-year $ 1.5 million deal with veteran Kurt Suzuki, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Friday. However, the Angels have not made an official announcement.

Suzuki thinks to split the duties behind the plate with Max Stassi. Anthony Bemboom also remains on the 40-man roster as depth behind Suzuki and Stassi, which could be important given that Stassi undergoes left hip surgery in October. The cheap deal also allows the Angels to remain aggressive in their pursuit of pitching.

Suzuki, 37, has local ties as he won the College World Series with Cal State Fullerton in 2004, and is familiar with new general manager Perry Minasian from their time with the Braves in 2018.

Suzuki played in 33 games with the Nationals in the shortened 2020 season, hitting .270 / .349 / .396 with two homers and 17 RBI’s in 33 games. He has remained a prolific hitter late in his career, as he also hit .264 / .324 / .486 with a career-high 17 home runs and 63 RBI’s in 85 games in ’19, helping the Nationals to a World Series title to win.

Suzuki, an All-Star with the Twins in ’14, played 14 seasons in the Majors, hitting .259 / .316 / .392 with 133 homers and 669 RBI’s in 1,512 games. He is also considered a clubhouse leader and with his experience he will help the pitching staff too.