The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have made some of the biggest hot-stove headlines these past two winters, highlighted by the signings of Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton.

Today MLB.com has reports on a pair of left-handers whom the Halos are counting on for a pennant run in 2013.



One, C.J. Wilson, was also a big splash signing who came on board, like Pujols, following the 2011 season.
Coming off breakout performances in 2010 and 2011 with the Texas Rangers (15-8, 16-7), both leading to World Series appearances, Wilson was one of the prize free agents last off-season.  With Anaheim in 2012, his ERA was nearly full point higher than in 2011, and his won-loss dropped to 13-10.  He did manage, however, to pitch 202 innings and lead the AL in starts for the second consecutive time.

After his last start of the regular season, on Oct. 1, Wilson revealed he had been pitching with bone spurs in his elbow throughout most of the second half.   On October 23, he underwent a routine procedure to clean out the elbow-- the same one he had with the Rangers in 2008.

Sean Burnett, on the other hand, was one of the quieter acquisitions by the Angels this winter.  Burnett, a 30-year-old relief specialist had appeared in 70 or so games for the Washington Nationals each of the last three seasons.  The former first round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Pirates experienced tightness in his elbow throughout the 2012 season, a real concern to the Dunedin, Florida native who had already undergone Tommy John surgery to repair the elbow in 2004.

On October 18, Burnett, like Wilson, underwent minor surgery wherein two small bone spurs were found and removed from his elbow.

MLB.com is reporting today that both of these southpaws are back on their normal throwing programs, and to Angels fans (and managements') delight, would both be ready in time for spring training.






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