Rays trade Joyce to Angels for Jepsen

The Tampa Bay Rays have traded outfielder Matt Joyce to the Los Angeles Angels for right-handed reliever Kevin Jepsen, the teams announced Tuesday. 

Both sides have been very active this offseason and the deal represents the second time they've consummated a trade within the last two months. The Rays sent reliever Cesar Ramos west in exchange for minor league pitcher Mark Sappington in November. 

Joyce will likely rotate in the corner outfield while also serving as the team's designated hitter, much like he did in his six seasons with the Rays. 

The 30-year-old saw his power decline in 2014, hitting .254/.349/.383 with nine home runs - a year removed from hitting 18 and slugging .419. Joyce isn't likely to get many at-bats against southpaws, as the left-handed hitter owns a career .189/.258/.316 line against them. 

Tampa Bay were reportedly fielding offers on Joyce as earlier as last month thanks in large part to the fact that he's projected to make $4.89 million in salary arbitration, according to MLB Trade Rumors. 

"I was a little surprised that I went to the Angels, but I don't think it could've worked out any better for me personally," Joyce told Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com. 

Jepsen has spent his entire seven-year career with the Angels in the bullpen. The 30-year-old is coming off a solid 2014 campaign that saw him post a career-low 2.63 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 65 innings while striking out 75. Jepsen is projected to make $2.6 million in salary arbitration and is under team control until 2017.