SAN DIEGO -- Starved for pitching depth, the Angels acquired right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne from the Marlins on Tuesday night in exchange for cash considerations. Right-hander Dayan Diaz was designated for assignment to clear a spot for Despaigne on the 40-man roster.
Manager Mike Scioscia said Despaigne will be used as a starter and help fill the holes in the rotation that were created by the injuries to Nick Tropeano and Tyler Skaggs. Despaigne is expected to join the Angels in the next couple days and is an option to start Thursday or Friday at Texas.
"He's definitely going to help us in our rotation," Scioscia said. "We're trying to patchwork a lot of stuff and adapt to what we have to do on the pitching side. He'll help us do that."
Despaigne, 31, logged a 5.31 ERA over 20 1/3 innings in 11 appearances for the Marlins this season. He opened the season in Miami's rotation but made only one start before being moved to the bullpen. Despaigne spent a month on the disabled list with a right forearm strain earlier this season and has not pitched in the Majors since May 31.
Despaigne was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans on June 7 and posted a 4.36 ERA with 40 strikeouts over 43 1/3 innings in 13 games, including four starts. A native of La Habana, Cuba, Despaigne played for the Havana Industriales of the Serie Nacional for eight seasons before defecting and signing a Minor League deal with the Padres on May 2, 2014. He has a 4.76 ERA in 98 career Major League games with the Padres, Orioles and Marlins.