Los Angeles Angels Sign Chad Cordero

I have to admit it. When I saw the tweet by MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez about this, I had to make sure I was reading this correctly. I hadn’t heard this name in years. It’s real though. The Angels signed Chad Cordero to a minor-league deal yesterday, without an invitation to Spring Training. Cordero will be attempting a major league comeback at 30 years old.

February 21, 2012; Tempe, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Angels general manager

(left) talks to owner Arte Moreno (right) during spring training at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Cordero last appeared in a baseball game in 2011 for the St. Paul Saints, and last appeared in a major league game with the Seattle Mariners back in 2010, where he went 0-1 with a 6.52 ERA in nine games.

Cordero came up with the Montreal Expos back in 2003 as a 21 year old. His best season came in 2005 after the Expos moved to Washington and became the Nationals. Cordero was 2-4 with a 1.82 ERA and a league leading 47 saves. He was an all-star and finished fifth in Cy Young Voting. The two years after were okay for Cordero, but in 2008 he tore his labrum. He missed all of 2009 and tried to come back with the Mariners in 2010 but it didn’t go well as the numbers above suggest.

I don’t see Cordero being called up to the big leagues this year. When you get a minor-league deal without an invite to major league camp, it says something. It gives the team some minor league depth. That’s really all this is. Good luck to Chad in his attempt to get back to the major leagues.