Angels sign reliever Chad Cordero to minor league deal

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Chad Cordero, the former Cal State Fullerton reliever who last pitched in the big leagues in 2010, has signed a minor league contract with the Angels, General Manager Jerry Dipoto confirmed Wednesday night.

Dipoto said there was “no connection” between the Cordero deal, which does not include an invitation to the Angels’ major league training camp, and closer Ryan Madson’s setback in his return from elbow surgery.

Cordero, 30, retired from baseball in June 2011 after pitching briefly with the independent league St. Paul Saints. As the Washington Nationals closer from 2005 through 2007, Cordero saved 113 games, including a National League-leading 47 in 2005.

But his career was derailed by arm injuries, and he pitched in only six games in 2008, missed the entire 2009 season and appeared in only nine games with a 6.52 earned-run average for the Seattle Mariners in 2010.

Dipoto said Cordero will report with a mini-camp group this weekend and will pitch in major league exhibition games “when the opportunity presents itself.”

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