The Los Angeles Angels have signed a lot of relievers, to the point where they’re clearly at the beginning of a complete bullpen overhaul. One of the biggest moves they didn’t make was re-sign reliable closer Kenley Jansen to a deal, and Jansen has since moved on, signing with the Detroit Tigers instead.
That leaves a huge hole in the bullpen, but the good news is that the Angels have plenty of options to fill that slot. Jansen’s numbers will be tough to replace, though—despite being 38, he posted a 2.59 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 59 innings while going 29-for-30 in save opportunities, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com.
Bollinger also took a run through the options, so let’s touch on the options and see who might be taking the mound for the Angels in the ninth inning in 2026.
Robert Stephenson and Ben Joyce, RHPs
Stephenson and Joyce both have the same issue—like many of the relievers the Angels have signed lately, they’ve had trouble staying on the mound due to injuries.
Stephenson is probably the leader in the clubhouse at this point, based simply on the fact that the Angels spent a lot of money on him, giving the right-hander a three-year, $33 million deal going into the 2024 season. The value return on their investment has been minimal, to say the least, as he made just 12 appearances last year due to a stretched nerve in his right bicep and right elbow inflammation.
He’s expected to be healthy this season, which will allow him to compete with Joyce, who has been a weapon when healthy, according to Bollinger, with a stat line for 2024 that included a 2.08 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings. H’s just 25, but Joyce threw just 4-1/3 innings last year. Joyce has closed before with some success, notching four saves in 2024, but his return won’t happen until early in the season.
Kirby Yates, RHP
Yates is a bit more of a long shot at 38, but he had 33 saves with the Texas Rangers in 2024 to go with a 0.83 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 61-2/3 innings. After a down year with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he’ll be reunited with new Angels pitching coach Mike Maddux, who worked with him in Texas.
Jordan Romano, RHP
Romano was a premiere closer with the Toronto Blue Jays, but it’s been a while. He had 95 saves for the Blue Jays from 2021-23, but he struggled with elbow inflammation in 2023 and failed to bounce back with the Philadelphia Phillies last season. He, too, is considered another Maddux reclamation project.