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Phillies express interest in Angels outfielder Juan Rivera

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The Philadelphia Phillies, in the market for a right-handed hitting right fielder to platoon with Domonic Brown, have expressed an interest in Angels outfielder Juan Rivera, according to a major league source.

Rivera’s playing time dropped dramatically in early August after the Angels called up center fielder Peter Bourjos and moved Torii Hunter from center to right, and he would become even more of an odd man out if the Angels acquire free-agent outfielder Carl Crawford or another outfielder through a trade.

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Any deal involving Rivera, who is entering the final year of a three-year contract, would probably require the Angels to pay a significant portion of his $5.25-million salary for 2011.

Rivera had a superb 2009 season, batting .287 with 25 home runs and 88 runs batted in, but he struggled in 2010, hitting .252 with 15 homers and 52 RBIs in 124 games.

Rivera is a career .276 hitter with 67 homers and 278 RBIs in 1,794 at-bats against right-handed pitchers. He has hit .288 with 45 homers and 140 RBIs in 899 career at-bats against left-handers. He is better defensively in right field than left.

Brown, who is expected to replace the departed Jayson Werth in right field for the Phillies, hit .210 with two homers and 13 RBIs in 35 games last season, including a .077 mark (one for 13) against lefties.

--Mike DiGiovanna in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

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