PHOENIX — The pool of in-house candidates who could bolster the Angels' late-inning relief corps continues to dwindle.
In the same week Kelvim Escobar suffered another shoulder setback that will sideline the potential setup man for several weeks, the Salt Lake Bees announced that Jose Arredondo went on the disabled list because of an elbow injury -- a right ulnar collateral ligament sprain.
The right-hander had a 1.35 earned-run average and seven strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings with the triple-A club after being demoted June 9.
Arredondo, 25, went 1-3 with a 5.55 ERA in 25 games for the Angels this season, a huge step backward after he went 10-2 with a 1.62 ERA in 52 games as a rookie last season.
His injury appears similar to one suffered by Ervin Santana, who missed the first six weeks of the season because of a sprained elbow ligament. Arredondo will be treated with anti-inflammatory medication and is expected to be sidelined for at least a month.
"We know how much we were anticipating what he can bring to the bullpen, and we were hoping he could be a force for us in the second half," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "But it doesn't look like that's going to be the case."
Scioscia doesn't think elbow problems contributed to Arredondo's struggles this season.
"We asked him numerous times about how he felt," Scioscia said. "He said he felt good; he just wasn't in sync with his delivery."
Slow road back
Just when Dustin Moseley's arm was beginning to feel better, the right-hander suffered a hip injury that has delayed his return from the disabled list.
Moseley, sidelined since April 18 because of tightness in his forearm and inflammation of a nerve in his neck, underwent an MRI test that showed inflammation in his left hip.
He received a cortisone injection and expects to return to a bullpen mound in Arizona, where he has been undergoing treatment for the last month, on Monday.
"It's really frustrating, especially when your arm is feeling better and other issues flare up," said Moseley, who joined the Angels in Chase Field for the weekend series.
"But by the end of July, I should be ready to go, maybe earlier if they want me to pitch out of the bullpen."
Moseley went 1-0 with a 4.30 ERA in three April starts but has extensive experience as a reliever. He would be happy to have any kind of role after what he's gone through this season.
