Pitcher Jered Weaver signed Friday with the Camden (N.J.) Riversharks of the independent Atlantic League after he and the Angels have been unable to come to a contract agreement.
Weaver, the Angels' first-round draft pick last year, has rejected offers of a major league contract worth $5.25 million and a minor league contract with a $4-million signing bonus. He and his agent, Scott Boras, originally sought a package in the $10-million range before reducing the asking price to the $8-million range.
The Angels retain rights to Weaver until May 30, but he is expected to re-enter the draft, which begins June 7.
"He'll throw a couple of innings here and there to show he's still alive and ready to go," Jeff said.
"I think it's a good idea," Angel scouting director Eddie Bane said. "He needed to go pitch somewhere. He hasn't pitched in a year. I was expecting him to do something like this earlier, but they have their own idea of how to do things.
"Actually, he should be pitching somewhere in our organization."
Jered Weaver Signs With Independent Team





