ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Maicer Izturis and the Los Angeles Angels avoided salary arbitration Wednesday, agreeing to a one-year contract worth $1.6 million.
The 28-year-old infielder hit .269 with 14 doubles, two triples, three home runs and 37 RBIs in 79 games last season, his fourth with the Angels. He can earn $100,000 in performance bonuses: $25,000 each for 475, 500, 525 and 550 plate appearances.
Izturis was the team's opening-day shortstop but underwent season-ending surgery in mid-August after tearing a ligament in his left thumb. He also strained his lower back in May and missed 61 games because of two stints on the disabled list.
Izturis was signed as a non-drafted free agent by Cleveland in 1998 and traded to Montreal in 2004. He was traded to the Angels for Jose Guillen in November of that year.
Right-hander Ervin Santana is the lone Angels player remaining in arbitration. Santana, who made $445,000 last year, asked for $4,325,000 and was offered $3.6 million.
Last week I tried to explain why signing Manny Ramirez would make sense for the Giants.
Perhaps the better question is, would the Giants make sense for Manny?
The answer would be "yes" only if the Giants made the right financial offer, which remains doubtful.
Ramirez would be largely unprotected in the Giants' lineup, which last season featured Bengie Molina batting cleanup.
