ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Right-hander Garrett Richards and the Los Angeles Angels have finalized a $3.2 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration.

Garrett Richards is set to earn $3.2 million in 2015 after a breakout performance in 2014. Mark L. Baer/USA TODAY Sports

The Angels avoided potentially their trickiest arbitration case by signing Richards, who went 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA in his breakout season in 2014. Los Angeles agreed to a deal closer to the $3.8 million requested by Richards than the $2.4 million offered by the club.

Richards appeared to be a serious contender for the AL Cy Young award until he tore the patellar tendon in his left knee while covering first base Aug. 20 in Boston, ending his season.

With Richards playing a prominent role until his injury, the Angels finished with the majors' best regular-season record and won the AL West last season before getting swept by Kansas City in the division series.

Although they'll be cautious with their prize right-hander in spring training, the Angels expect Richards to be a key part of their rotation again. He will begin running at full speed in Arizona next week, and he is expected to resume throwing off a mound shortly afterward, staying on track to be ready by opening day.

Richards was in the first of his four arbitration-eligible years.

Newly acquired outfielder Matt Joyce is the Angels' only unsigned arbitration-eligible player remaining. The longtime Tampa Bay outfielder asked for $5.2 million, and the Angels countered with $4.2 million.

Los Angeles hasn't gone to an arbitration hearing since 2011.

The Angels begin spring training Feb. 20 in Tempe, Arizona.