Los Angeles Angels claim former Colorado Rockies reliever Christian Friedrich off waivers

The Los Angeles Angels have claimed former Colorado Rockies reliever Christian Friedrich off waivers, according to a report on Friday morning from Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. The left-handed reliever had been with the Rockies his entire career after the club selected him in the first round of the MLB Draft (25th overall) out of Eastern Kentucky University in 2008.

Friedrich went 0-4 with a 5.25 ERA in 58⅓ innings with the Rockies in 2015, logging 11.6 H/9, 3.9 BB/9, and 6.9 K/9. In his career with Colorado, the lefty appeared in 100 games (19 starts), going 5-16 with a 5.81 ERA in 167⅓ innings. Friedrich will compete for a role in the Angels' bullpen this spring, according to Fletcher.

Friedrich was designated for assignment by Colorado last week in a move necessitated by the team's trade of Corey Dickerson to the Tampa Bay Rays. In return from the Rays, the Rockies received two players to be added to their previously-full 40-man roster — Jake McGee and German Marquez — and Friedrich became the odd man out. Now, he'll have a shot to make a big league bullpen with the Angels this spring.

To make room for Friedrich on their 40-man roster, the Angels designated infielder Taylor Featherston for assignment. Featherston was the Rockies' fifth round pick in 2011 out of Texas Christian University, and claimed by the Chicago Cubs in the 2014 Rule 5 Draft, before being purchased by the Angels.

Featherston spent all of 2015 on the Angels' Major League roster to fulfill the Rule 5 Draft obligations, but slashed just .162/.212/.247 in 169 plate appearances, seeing time at third base, second base, and shortstop.