Angels agree to 1-year deal with Soto

Los Angeles Angels general manager Billy Eppler wasted no time replacing Chris Iannetta, agreeing to a one-year, $2.8-million deal with veteran catcher Geovany Soto on Tuesday.

The National League Rookie of the Year in 2008, Soto has bounced around the past four seasons, with the Angels becoming his fifth team in four years.

Soto appeared in 78 games with the Chicago White Sox last season, hitting .219/.301/.406 with nine home runs, eight doubles, and 63 strikeouts in 78 games. The 32-year-old is expected to split time with Carlos Perez.

"It might end up a complete timeshare, it might end up that one guy takes more than the other," Eppler told reporters. "We wanted to have someone with Geo's experience level, competitive makeup; also just his character, how he is with teammates and how he is in the clubhouse. We wanted to get that part of the culture. I think that will be good for Carlos. He and Carlos will be a tandem, and we'll see how the playing time ultimately ends up dividing itself."

Iannetta spent the past four seasons with the Angels and hoped to return in 2016. However, he agreed to a one-year deal with the Seattle Mariners on Monday, as it was reported Los Angeles wasn't interested in re-signing him.