Done Deals: Joe Blanton gets two years, $15 million from Angels on Day 3 of meetings (Big League Stew)

We'll be keeping a running list of the trades and signings that go down during the winter meetings. Bookmark this post and check back frequently.
Wednesday
Angels sign Blanton for $15 million

Needing starting help with Dan Haren departing for D.C. and Zack Greinke presumably too expensive to keep as well, the Los Angeles Angeles signed right-hander Joe Blanton for two years and $15 million, reports Mike DiGiovana of the Los Angeles Times . Soon to be 32 years old, Blanton has a 4.37 ERA in 228 career starts with the A's, Phillies and Dodgers. He finished 2012 with a 4.71 ERA, along with 166 strikeouts and 34 walks in 30 starts.
BLS take: Blanton has not finished with an ERA that's better than the league average since 2009. In '12, his hit rate was near his career average, and his walks and strikeouts rates were the best of his career, so that's encouraging. He's got a chance to be a good fifth starter, maybe a No. 4 if everything goes right. But for $7.5 million per season averaged out, he won't be much of a bargain. His goatee remains formidable. � ? Dave Brown
Lefties double-up! Sean Burnett signs with Angels, Randy Choate goes to Cardinals
The Angels added Burnett, as first reported by Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports , for two seasons with an option for a third, as confirmed by Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times . He'll make $8 million the first two seasons. Burnett, who turned 30 in September, apparently priced himself beyond the budget for the Washington Nationals. He posted a 2.38 ERA with 57 strikeouts and 12 walks in 56 2/3 innings there in 2012. He has a 3.58 ERA in 362 1/3 career innings.

Reporter Sweeny Murti of WFAN radio (via Jon Heyman of CBS) had Choate headed to St. Louis, which gave him a three-year deal for $7.5 million . Choate, 37, has led the league in appearances in two of the past three seasons. He finished with a 3.03 ERA in 38 2/3 innings (80 games!) for the Marlins and Dodgers.
BLS take: Burnett is one of the more durable relievers in the majors, appearing an average 71 times the past four seasons. He did have surgery after 2012 to remove bone spurs, which he simply pitched through. Burnett, as you could figure, has been better against left-handed batters (.628 OPS vs. .746 against righties), though in 2010 he was oddly effective against righties. The Angels are doing a solid job of repairing their bullpen, also having added right-hander Ryan Madson this offseason. Scott Downs and Ernesto Frieri are also in the mix.
BLS take : Randol Doyle Choate is an archetypical one-out lefty, or LOOGY. He has made 476 career appearances while compiling just 309 1/3 innings, allowing a .563 OPS against lefties and .806 against righties. He's a side-armer and has a healthy track record, but 37 years old seems advanced for a three-year deal. The Cardinals had trouble with their lefty situation in 2012 and Choate locks that down. The deal is not that out of whack. ? Dave BrownBill O\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'Reilly Kate Moss Diane Sawyer Sean (Diddy) Combs John Grisham Rachael Ray Dave Chappelle Larry the Cable Guy Tyra Banks George Lopez