The Los Angeles Angels designated right-handed reliever Cody Allen for assignment on Saturday, giving up on the free-agent signee who started the season as the closer.
The Angels signed Allen to a one-year, $8.5 million contract in the offseason. He spent the previous seven seasons with Cleveland, where he had at least 24 saves in five straight seasons, including a career-high 34 in 2015.
But with the Angels, he struggled. He lost his closer role in late April after a four-game stretch in which he allowed five runs, including three home runs.
The Angels' move come one day after Allen surrendered four runs in two-thirds of an inning in a 9-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
On the season, Allen appeared in 25 games and posted a 6.26 ERA over 23 innings. He gave up 16 runs on 24 hits, including nine home runs. He walked 20 and struck out 29.
"The only thing I can do is just try and get better," Allen told reporters after his outing on Friday. "Either I'm going to get better or they're going to find someone else who does. That's the reality of the game."
The Angels recalled right-hander Taylor Cole from Triple-A Salt Lake to take Allen's place on the roster.
Cole, 29, has appeared in eight games (one start) for the Angels this season, pitching 12 2/3 innings with a 4.97 ERA.
Last season, in 18 games (two starts) with the Angels, he was 4-2 with a 2.75 ERA.
--Field Level Media
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