Los Angeles Angels Sign Robert Coello To Minor League Deal

The Los Angeles Angels made another depth move for AAA this season. With Jo-Jo Reyes released and off to Korea, they thought they needed one more extra arm for the minors. Someone who could start or long relieve in a pinch. That man is righty Robert Coello. The Angels signed him to a minor-league deal with an invite to Spring Training, bringing their total amount of players this spring to 62.

June 24, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Robert Coello (56) throws against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Coello pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays in six games last year, going 0-1 with a 12.79 ERA in six innings of work. Coello was 4-1 with a 3.00 ERA in AAA Las Vegas for the Blue Jays last season. Coello was acutally already in the Angels organization, playing rookie ball for them back in 2007. He then moved onto Canada to play indepedant league ball, and then came back to be in the Boston Red Sox organization in 2009. Coello pitched in the majors for the Sox in 2010.

Again, this is a move for organizational depth. There would probably have to be a ton of injuries to see him at the big league level for the Angels this season. There’s a pretty good chance he may not last that long in big league camp and gets sent to the minors. It’s a signing in the same vein of Billy Buckner from earlier this off-season. You sign these kind of players and see what happens. If you catch lightning in a bottle, fine. If you don’t, it’s not a big deal.