PEORIA, Ariz. -- In mid-January, Christian Friedrich arrived in Arizona in order to get a head start on Spring Training.
What Friedrich got instead was a cruel lesson on the inner workings of baseball transactions.
Here's how it went down for the 28-year-old, who last week agreed to a Minor League deal with the Padres:
• On Jan. 28, Friedrich was designated for assignment by the Rockies, the only organization for which he had played.
• On Feb. 5, Friedrich was acquired off waivers by the Angels.
• On Feb. 19, Friedrich was returned to the Rockies by the Angels due to concerns about his medical evaluation and his "ability to play at his accustomed level.