The Angels have acquired 29-year old lefty starting pitcher Jason Vargas from the Seattle Mariners for 29-year old switch-hitting 1B/DH Kendry Morales. Vargas pitched in 33 games (all starts) for the Mariners last year and he was 14-11 with a 3.85 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. Vargas gave up 201 hits and 55 walks in 217 1/3 innings for the Mariners last year while whiffing 141 batters as he was impressive. Vargas has now pitched in 150 games (130 starts) in his first seven years in the majors and he is 42-50 with a 4.35 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Vargas will likely be slotted in the #4 spot in the Angels rotation in 2013. Kendry Morales played in 134 games for the Angels last year and he was 132 of 484 (.273 avg, .787 OPS) with 61 runs scored, 22 homers and 73 RBIs. Morales played in 464 games in his six years with the Angels and he was 455 of 1,620 (.281 avg, .823 OPS) with 216 runs scored, 79 homers, 265 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. This could turn out to be a good trade for both teams.

The Angels have signed 32-year old switch-hitting infielder Luis Rodriguez to a minor league deal. Rodriguez played in 102 games in AAA-ball for the Mariners and he was 107 of 361 (.296 avg, .841 OPS) with 49 runs scored, 12 homers, 51 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. He last played in the majors in 2011 for the Mariners. Rodriguez has played in 407 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 231 of 972 (.238 avg, .638 OPS) with 100 runs scored, 10 homers, 80 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Rodriguez is going to be a longshot to win a bench job with the Angels next spring.

The Angels have signed 36-year old righty starting pitcher Brian Lawrence to a minor league deal. He didn’t pitch at all last year. He pitched in 7 games (all starts) in AAA-ball for the Angels in 2011 and he was 2-5 with a 8.07 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP. Lawrence last pitched in the majors back in 2007 with the Mets. Lawrence has pitched in 168 games (152 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 50-63 with a 4.19 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. Lawrence will have to prove he’s healthy in the minors and pitch well before he will be even considered to get his major league career back going.

UPDATE: (12/22/2012) - The Angels have released Brian Lawrence.

The Angels have signed 31-year old lefty swinging outfielder Josh Hamilton to a 5-year, $125 million dollar deal. Hamilton played in 148 games for the Rangers last year and he was 160 of 562 (.285 avg, .930 OPS) with 103 runs scored, 43 homers, 128 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. He has now played in 737 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 858 of 2,825 (.304 avg, .913 OPS) with 471 runs scored, 161 homers, 553 RBIs and 43 stolen bases. Hamilton has been on five A.L. All-Star teams in a row, he has won three Silver Slugger Awards so far this year and he won the A.L. MVP Award in 2010. Hamilton played in 133 games for the Rangers in 2010 and he was 186 of 518 (.359 avg, 1.044 OPS) with 95 runs scored, 32 homers, 100 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Hamilton led the majors in both batting average (.359) and OPS (1.044) in 2010. This was an awesome move for the Angels as it helps them while hurting the rival Rangers, just like they did last year when they signed C.J. Wilson. The Angels now have extra position players to deal for pitching.

The Angels have signed 31-year old righty starting pitcher Joe Blanton to a 2-year, $15 million dollar deal with a club option for 2015. Blanton pitched in 31 games (30 starts) for the Dodgers and Phillies last year in which he was 10-13 with a 4.71 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He has now pitched in 237 games (228 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 83-75 with a 4.37 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. Blanton is a solid back end of the rotation pitcher. I like this pickup for the Angels as they didn’t have to break the bank for Blanton.

The Angels have signed 30-year old lefty reliever Sean Burnett to a 2-year deal with a club option for the 2015 season. Burnett pitched in 70 games (0 starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 1-2 with a 2.38 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. He has now pitched in 354 games (13 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 15-23 with 10 saves, a 3.58 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. Burnett was by far the best lefty reliever on the free agent market, so this was a nice pickup for the Angels. Burnett will team with Scott Downs in the pen to make the Angels very tough on lefty hitters late in ball games in 2013 and beyond.

The Angels have re-signed 31-year old righty reliever/starter Jarrett Grube to a minor league deal. Grube pitched in 24 games (15 starts) in AA+AAA-ball for the Mariners and Angels last year and he was 3-8 with a 6.16 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP. He has now pitched in 303 games (93 starts) in his first nine years in the minors and he is 48-42 with 1 save, a 4.20 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Grube will likely start the 2013 season in AAA-ball for the Angels.

The Angels have claimed 27-year old lefty swinging outfielder Scott Cousins off waivers from the Mariners. Cousins played in 53 games for the Marlins last year and he was 14 of 86 (.163 avg, .467 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 1 homer, 3 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 128 games in his first three years in the majors and he is 32 for 175 (.183 avg, .523 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 2 homers, 9 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Cousins will likely start the 2013 season in AAA-ball for the Angels.

The Angels have acquired 26-year old righty starting pitcher Tommy Hanson from the Atlanta Braves for 25-year old righty reliever Jordan Walden. Hanson pitched in 31 games (all starts) for the Braves last year and he was 13-10 with a 4.48 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. He has now pitched in 108 games (all starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 45-32 with a 3.61 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Hanson will step right into the Angels rotation behind Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson. Jordan Walden pitched in 45 games (0 starts) for the Angels last year and he was 3-2 with 1 save, a 3.46 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He pitched in 123 games (0 starts) in his three years with the Angels and he was 8-8 with 34 saves, a 3.06 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. This was a deal the Angels had to make as Hanson is really going to help them in 2013 and hopefully down the road.

The Angels have signed 27-year old righty starting pitcher Brandon Hynick to a minor league deal. He pitched in 22 games (21 starts) in A+AA+AAA-ball for the Rockies last year and he was 9-7 with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Hynick has now pitched in 170 games (154 starts) in his first seven years in the minors and he is 59-46 with a 3.74 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. He will likely start the 2013 season in AAA-ball, but he might help the Angels at some point in 2013.