Right-hander Garrett Richards has been named the Angels' Opening Day starter vs. the A's on Thursday, manager Mike Scioscia confirmed Monday. Left-hander Tyler Skaggs will get the ball on Friday.
The Angels' skipper has not yet set a date for Shohei Ohtani to make his first regular-season start.
One of the louder worries of this protracted, somewhat bewildering baseball offseason was that legitimate free agents -- guys who have a clear place in this league and a value for their teams -- would be left without a team. Remember that anonymous free agent back in December who claimed he'd sit out half the season if he had to in order to get the contract he felt he was worth?