Jan. 28--The Angels avoided arbitration with David Freese on Wednesday, agreeing to terms with the third baseman on a one-year, $6.425-million deal, a salary that was exactly midway between the $7.6 million Freese sought and the $5.25 million the Angels offered.
Freese, 31, was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals last winter and had a subpar 2014 season, batting .260 with 10 home runs and 55 runs batted in, and he is eligible to become a free agent after 2015. Unless Freese has a huge year, the Angels are not expected to retain him beyond this season.
Freese's deal leaves just two arbitration-eligible Angels players unsigned, pitcher Garrett Richards and outfielder Matt Joyce, who was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays.
Richards asked for $3.8 million, and the Angels countered with $2.4 million. Joyce asked for $5.2 million, and the Angels offered $4.2 million. If the sides can't come to terms, they would go to arbitration hearings in February.
