Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
KEN PETERS
Associated Press
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Free-agent first baseman Shea Hillenbrand agreed to join the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday after splitting last season between Toronto and San Francisco.
The one-year contract includes a club option for 2008. The deal is pending a physical.
The Angels also said outfielder Juan Rivera will have surgery Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on his broken left leg. There was no immediate word on how long he will be out.
The 31-year-old Hillenbrand, dividing him time between leagues, hit a combined .277, with a career-high 21 home runs and 68 RBIs in 141 games. He finished with 73 runs and 27 doubles.
He batted .301 and hit 12 homers for the Blue Jays before being designated for assignment July 19. He was traded to the Giants on July 21 for pitchers Vinnie Chulk and Jeremy Accardo, and hit .248 with nine homers in 60 games with San Francisco.
An All-Star in 2002 and 2005, Hillenbrand has a .287 career average, with 104 homers and 1,482 RBIs.
Rivera was injured Friday during a winter league game in Venezuela. Last season, he had career highs in average (.310), runs (65), hits (139), home runs (23) and RBIs (85).