Angels send Frandsen to triple-A; pitchers Bell, Cassevah recalled

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Kevin Frandsen has the highest batting average (.288 in 139 at-bats) on the team, but that didn’t prevent the Angels from optioning the utility player to triple-A Salt Lake before Friday night’s game against the Texas Rangers.

The Angels recalled pitchers Trevor Bell and Bobby Cassevah from Salt Lake, with one of the right-handers taking the roster spot of starter Joel Pineiro, who went on the disabled list because of a rib-cage strain on Wednesday, and one taking Frandsen’s roster spot. Bell will be available out of the bullpen this weekend but is expected to start in Baltimore on Tuesday.

‘It’s the last thing I expected, not to say that in a negative way,’ said Frandsen, who replaced the struggling Brandon Wood at third base in June and was hitting .337 on July 4 before hitting an 0-for-18 skid. ‘It’s never fun going down, but you’ve got to go with it and know it’s the right thing for the organization. We’re obviously thin on pitching now, and this is a big series.’

The move is an indication that the Angels have not been able to get Wood through waivers despite the fact that Wood is batting .168 with three homers, 12 runs batted in, 52 strikeouts and four walks in 173 at-bats. Had Wood not been claimed by other teams, he would have been sent to Salt Lake weeks ago.

‘It was very tough to send him down,’ Manager Mike Scioscia said of Frandsen. ‘He’s shown he is a major league player. He’s certainly on our depth chart.’

--Mike DiGiovanna