Kole Calhoun agrees to 2 year deal with Diamondbacks

Former Los Angeles Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun agreed to a contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday.

League sources told ESPN and MLB Media that Calhoun and the Diamondbacks are in agreement on a two-year, $16 million deal. The contract also includes a third-year club option for $9 million, with a $2 million buyout.

“This is really kind of a dream come true, honestly,” Calhoun said Monday. “I’m born and raised here, grew up a Diamondback fan. Anybody who dreams of playing in the big leagues and you get there, your dreams come true. But as a kid growing up, I always dreamed of playing for the Diamondbacks and now I’ve got that opportunity. I couldn’t be more excited.”

Calhoun, 32, who became a free agent for the first time when the Los Angeles Angels declined to exercise his 2020 contract option, has spent his entire career with the Angels, who drafted him in the eighth round in 2010 out of Arizona State.

Looking for the best online betting site? Visit Heritage Sports!

The Buckeye, Ariz. native is coming off one of the best campaign of his career, as he set career highs in home runs (33) and slugging percentage (.467), while also having the second-best OPS of his career (.792).

Calhoun added 74 RBIs in 152 matches played on the 2019 season.

His batting average has underwhelmed the past two seasons, as he hit .232 in 2019 and only .208 the year before for a combined .221 in those two seasons. But his on-base percentage was .325 as he drew 70 walks last year, good for 36th-most in baseball. His WAR was 2.3 in 2019, a significant improvement from the previous season.

“I wanted to go to a team that’s really looking to win,” Calhoun said. “This is a team coming off an 85-win season, a team that’s made a splash with a big free-agent arm and a team that’s really showing they’re ready to take the next step.”

Get all the latest Betting and Sport News updates on your social media outlets. Find us on both Facebook and Twitter