The Oakland Athletics have signed pitcher Joe Blanton to a minor league deal.
Blanton has been assigned to Triple-A Sacramento .
The 33-year-old Blanton was let go by the Los Angeles Angels this spring after allowing 22 hits and 16 earned runs in 20 1/3 innings of work.
It is doubtful that Blanton will become much of an option for the Athletics this season after he was 2-14 last season with a 6.04 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP across 132 2/3 innings of work for the Angels.
He provides the Athletics some form of minor league depth but that is about it. No word if he has any opt out dates in his new deal.
Blanton was originally the 24th pick of the 2002 draft by the Athletics.
