To date, the Los Angeles Angels bullpen is a collection of parts and pieces. Some are intriguing, while others are basically walking lottery tickets and retreads, so putting them together is going to be a real challenge.
That challenge belongs to rookie manager Kurt Suzuki and new pitching coach Mike Maddux, of course, but Vincent Page of Halo Hangout took a run at it in a recent piece. He assumed the Angels are done adding relievers, which may or may not be true, but Page did pick out eight relievers who will make the roster along with a shot at how they’ll be used. The approach here will be a little different, but Page did provide plenty of good raw materials.
Closer: Kirby Yates vs. Jordan Romano. In a perfect world, the Angels would sign for or trade a young closer who would grab the job and nail it down for years to come.
That’s not the world the Halos are living in right now, however. Yatees and Romano have both been All-Star closers, so there is some talent to work with, but most likely they’ll compete to finish games if the bullpen stays as currently constructed it.
Lefty specialist: Drew Pomeranz. If it feels like the Chicago Cubs lefty has been around forever, that’s because he has. Usually that’s a red flag, but left-handed specialists often pitch for what feels like forever, and there’s no doubt that Pomeranz can still be effective if he’s used judiciously.
Ryan Zeferjahn. Zeferjahn is definitely the wild card in the Angels bullpen equation. He had a strong debut in 2024, but last year hitters began barreling up his pitches, and his ERA ballooned to 4.74. A comeback would be extremely welcome.
Long man: Caden Dana. This one’s an intriguing idea that comes from Page, and it’s designed to take some of the pressure of starting right way at the highest level. The idea here is that it worked last year with the development of reliever Reid Detmers, who will be a starter this year, so wby not try it again?
Brock Burke. Brock could fill any number of roles in 2026, especially with Pomeranz coming in as the left specialist. Burke had an outstanding season in 2025, and he could even become part of the closing equation.
Robert Stephenson. Stephenson is one of several wounded warriors in this group. He pitched in just 12 games last year, so Angels fans would settle for him being simply servicable. The same goes for right-hander Ben Joyce, who will be coming off shoulder surgery.