Richards doubles salary as Angels avoid arbitration

Garrett Richards is one of the Los Angeles Angels' most important pitchers, if not THE most vital part of their staff, so it was in the Angels' best interest to avoid arbitration with him ahead of the deadline.

On Thursday, the team did just that - agreeing with Richards on a $6.425 million contract for the upcoming season according to MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez. 

Richards, 27, bounced back in 2015 from the horrific patellar tendon that he suffered in August of 2014. As the team's rotation anchor, Richards went 15-12 with a 3.65 ERA in 32 starts. In his first full season of MLB activity in 2014, he dazzled the league until the knee injury ended his breakout campaign early. 

In '14, Richards went 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA, striking out 164 batters in just under 170 innings of work.

His new salary doubles the $3.2 million he made in 2015, and he won't be eligible for free agency until after the 2018 season...so the Angels will no doubt enjoy watching him pitch for them for years to come.