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Free agent third baseman Luis Valbuena lost his spot on the Astros roster to Alex Bregman and Yulieski Gurriel this offseason. But Valbuena isn’t going far. FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal is reporting the Angels have signed the infielder:
Source: #Angels in agreement with Valbuena, pending physical. Likely for two years with club option, per @JeffFletcherOCR.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 20, 2017
Valbuena, 31, batted .260 (76x292) with 38 runs scored, 17 doubles, 13 home runs, 40 RBIs, and 124 OPS+. He was sidelined in late July with a hamstring injury and missed the remainder of the season.
He was originally acquired by the Astros before the 2015 season from the Chicago Cubs, Valbuena and RHP Dan Straily were sent to Houston for outfielder Dexter Fowler.
Valbuena was the Astros’ Opening Day starter at third base for the past two seasons. He struggled to be consistent at the plate. Starting the 2015 season with a .269 (68x253) and 12 home runs, finishing the year with a .205 (8x39) average. Flipping the script in 2016 with a .199 (57x286) average before the all-star break and a .270 (40x148) average after.