ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The
Los Angeles Angels traded former All-Star reliever
Brendan Donnelly to the
Boston Red Sox on Friday for rookie left-hander
Phil Seibel.
The 35-year-old Donnelly became expendable when the Angels and reliever
Justin Speier agreed to an $18 million, four-year contract.
Donnelly was 6-0 with a 3.94 ERA in 62 games last season. He had a 5-0 record and a 3.52 ERA in 29 games after the All-Star break, and held the opposition scoreless in 19 of his last 21 appearances.
Donnelly was 23-8 with a 2.87 ERA and four saves in 276 appearances with the Angels. He signed with them in as a minor league free agent in January 2001, and made his big league debut in 2002 after 10 minor league seasons with nine different organizations.
His best year was in 2003, when he allowed only two earned runs in his first 50 innings. Donnelly's 0.38 ERA was the lowest by a regular big league reliever at the All-Star break, and he was the winning pitcher in the AL's 7-6 victory over the NL in the All-Star game. He finished the season with a 1.58 ERA and a career-high three saves.
Donnelly set career highs with nine wins and 65 appearances in 2005. He was limited to 40 games in 2004 after missing the Angels' first 64 games due to a broken nose.
The 27-year-old Seibel spent the last three seasons in the Boston organization after being claimed on waivers from the New York Mets in November 2003. He pitched 3 2-3 scoreless innings in two games with the Red Sox in 2004.
Seibel went 6-3 with a 1.24 ERA for three Boston farm clubs last season. He didn't pitch in 2005 after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his pitching elbow following the 2004 season.
Before turning professional, Seibel pitched three seasons for the University of Texas.