LOS ANGELES _ The Los Angeles Angels will not require arbitration hearings for right-handed pitchers J.C. Ramirez and Nick Tropeano. Both are coming back from arm problems.
Ramirez agreed to a one-year deal for $1,901,000 and Tropeano agreed in principle with a one-year contract for $1.075 million, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly about the topic.
Ramirez, 30, is expected to spend most of the first half of next season recovering from elbow ligament replacement surgery. Tropeano, 28, is expected to be limited at the start of spring training next month, but should be available for most of 2019. He made only 14 starts last season, making three trips to the disabled list because of inflammation in his shoulder. He underwent elbow ligament replacement surgery in 2016.
Tropeano was shut down in September after posting a 4.74 earned-run average in 76 innings. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection to ease the injury and began to play catch in November without reporting any issues.
The Angels have six other players eligible for arbitration, and have until Friday at 10 a.m. PT to agree on contracts. The players are left-handers Andrew Heaney and Tyler Skaggs; right-handers Cam Bedrosian, Luis Garcia and Hansel Robles; and infielder Tommy La Stella.
If the club and player can't settle on a contract, they will exchange salary figures and obtain a trial date for early February. They can come to an agreement anytime in the weeks before the hearing.
The Angels haven't gone to an arbitration hearing since former ace Jered Weaver and his agent Scott Boras forced the issue in 2011, when the team's general manager was Tony Reagins.
