Dec. 16--The Angels added a primary designated hitter, a possible No. 2 hitter, some outfield depth and balance to the lineup with Tuesday's acquisition of Matt Joyce from the Tampa Bay Rays for veteran reliever Kevin Jepsen.
The left-handed-hitting Joyce, 30, has been an everyday corner outfielder for the past two years, so he will provide insurance in case right fielder Kole Calhoun or left fielder Josh Hamilton is injured.
A .250 career hitter with a .342 on-base percentage, .441 slugging percentage, 88 home runs and 313 runs batted in over seven seasons, Joyce is known for his excellent plate discipline, which could fit nicely in the second spot behind Kole Calhoun.
That would allow Manager Mike Scioscia to move Mike Trout and Albert Pujols from the second and third spots to the third and fourth spots in the order.
And with Trout, Pujols, David Freese, Chris Iannetta, probable second baseman Josh Rutledge and designated hitter C.J. Cron all batting from the right side, Joyce, who has a career .261/.356/.463 slash line against right-handed pitchers, gives the Angels an attractive platoon option with Cron.
"A left-handed bat with the ability to beat up right-handed pitching the way Matt has through his career really fit us well," General Manager Jerry Dipoto said. "He can play the corner outfield spots, first base, DH. He gives us a lot of flexibility and makes us a deeper and more balanced team.
"We felt like the bullpen was a strength. We're dealing from an area of depth to gain depth in a different area."
Joyce, who is one year away from free agency, is projected to make about $5 million in arbitration next season. Jepsen, 30, is two years away from free agency and is due to make about $2.6 million in arbitration, so the trade will add to the team's payroll.
Jepsen, a second-round pick of the Angels in 2002, had his best season in 2014, going 0-2 with a 2.63 earned run average in 74 games, striking out 75 and walking 23 in 65 innings as the Angels' primary seventh-inning reliever.
Jepsen had seen his name in trade rumors, so he wasn't shocked by the deal, but he said it would be difficult to move to Tampa Bay after spending all 13 of his professional seasons with the Angels organization.
"That's the hardest part about it," Jepsen said by phone. "Some guys get traded a year or two into pro ball, they're moved around in the minor leagues, and they kind of get used to it. This being the first time for me, it's a little different. I don't know how to explain it.
"You have so many relationships when you're with one organization. Outside of a couple of coaching changes, and the front office, it's been a lot of the same faces who have been there since I was drafted. The friendships you have, the people you're used to seeing day in, day out, for 13 years, that's tough."
Dipoto said right-hander Mike Morin, who had a breakout rookie season in 2014, and Vinnie Pestano, Fernando Salas and Cory Rasmus would be the leading candidates to fill Jepsen's role, with Cam Bedrosian adding depth. The Angels also acquired veteran left-hander Cesar Ramos from Tampa Bay in November.
"It was difficult for us to trade Jepsen coming off his best year, but we just felt this was an opportunity for us to build a deeper and well-balanced lineup for 2015 and to continue to make moves we feel will make us better," Dipoto said. "We felt this was the right move to balance our team."
