New arms arrive as the Angels target a dominant closer for 2026. Who will seize the ninth inning spotlight?
The Los Angeles Angels have made several additions to their bullpen this offseason, but one question remains: who will be the club’s closer in 2026? With last season’s closer, Kenley Jansen, signing a deal with the Detroit Tigers, the most coveted spot in the Angels' bullpen is up for grabs.
There are many options for first-time manager Kurt Suzuki as he makes his decision. Relievers Robert Stephenson and Ben Joyce are expected to be healthy at the start of the 2026 season after struggling with injuries in the past couple of seasons. New signings Drew Pomeranz, Jordan Romano, and Kirby Yates also provide Suzuki with additional options to be the club’s closer next season.
Stephenson has played just 12 games for the Angels since signing in 2024, but he was great in his limited time on the mound last season. His 2.70 ERA and 1.00 WHIP make him a strong contender to take the closing job next season in his final year of a $33 million deal.
He’s not the most experienced option to fill the role, however, as Yates has many more saves under his belt. Yates is two saves shy of reaching the 100 mark, recording 33 saves just two seasons ago. Though he had a disappointing 2025 campaign, his career 3.36 ERA makes a strong case. Perhaps the strongest case for a Yates bounce-back year is his reunion with pitching coach Mike Maddux, this time in Anaheim. The two won a World Series together back in 2024, where Yates posted a 1.17 ERA and received Cy Young votes.
Joyce, 25, is the youngest of the bunch likely to be considered. He’s pitched over 10 innings just once in his three-year career, but his 2024 campaign showed real signs of a threatening reliever. His 2.08 ERA that season caught the eyes of everybody, especially with his fastball that had reached the mid 100s. He may be the least experienced of them all, but the thought of Joyce’s arm coming out in the ninth inning is an exciting idea.
Romano has the most saves of all the options at 113. He struggled in his last two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, however, posting a 6.59 and 8.23 ERA, respectively. If he can get back to his pre-2024 level, Romano would be the sure option to be the next Halos closer.
The last option, Pomeranz, has just 10 career saves to his name in 12 seasons. After not pitching since the 2021 season, Pomeranz balled out with the Chicago Cubs last year, holding opponents to just a 2.17 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. He may not have the velocity of a typical closing pitcher, but his last year's numbers were the best of the options the Angels have right now.
Suzuki has plenty of options at his disposal, but the hope is that whoever he chooses can put up as productive a season as Jansen did in 2025.