Angels Don't Offer Arbitration to Benjie and Washburn

The Los Angeles Angels are parting ways with two players who made key contributions to the team's success over the past few years, declining salary arbitration to catcher Bengie Molina and starting pitcher Jarrod Washburn.

Angels general manager Bill Stoneman announced Wednesday that the club also won't offer salary arbitration to reliever Jason Christiansen and infielder Lou Merloni.

Players who became free agents and weren't offered arbitration can't re-sign with their former clubs until May 1.

The 31-year-old Molina, known for his skill for getting the best from pitchers, batted .295 with 15 home runs and 69 RBI in 119 games this past season. He originally signed with the Angels as a minor league free agent in 1993.

His brother, Jose, has been a backup catcher for the Angels. Another brother, Yadier, catches for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Stoneman earlier said that the Angels were not going to try to keep Washburn. The 31-year-old left-hander went 8-8 this year with a 3.20 ERA in 29 starts. He had one shutout.

The 36-year Christiansen was acquired by Los Angeles in a trade with San Francisco on Aug. 30. He had no decisions and had a 2.45 in 12 appearances for the Angels after going 6-1 with a 5.36 ERA in 56 appearances for the Giants.

Merloni, 34, was hitless in five at-bats with one RBI in five games with the Angels. He went on the 15-day disabled list on May 2 with a sprained right ankle, later underwent surgery and sat out the rest of the season.