The Angels announced they’ve reinstated reliever Robert Stephenson from the 60-day injured list. They optioned righty Chase Silseth in a corresponding move. Los Angeles already had a couple openings on the 40-man roster after recently designating Connor Brogdon and Shaun Anderson for assignment.
Stephenson returns after losing almost three months to a biceps injury. He’d missed all of last season rehabbing elbow surgery. That carried over into late May this year. Stephenson has spent a total of three days on the Angels’ active roster. He tossed a perfect inning with two strikeouts in his team debut on May 28. Two days later, the biceps injury knocked him out of action before he finished an at-bat.
The Halos signed Stephenson to a three-year, $33MM free agent deal going into 2024. While the elbow injury wiped out the entire first season, it triggered a conditional $2.5MM club option for 2027. Stephenson was dominant down the stretch two seasons back, striking out 43% of opponents with a 2.35 ERA in 42 appearances for the Rays. His arm hasn’t given him a chance to repeat that performance.
The Halos have dropped five games under .500 and are very likely going to miss the playoffs. They’ll hope Stephenson looks like his old self in the final five weeks of the regular season. That’d at least allow them to pencil him in as a high-leverage arm as they construct their 2026 bullpen.
Kenley Jansen is an impending free agent. Ben Joyce will be working back from shoulder surgery. Reid Detmers is a quality reliever but might get a chance to compete for a rotation spot next spring. Ryan Zeferjahn has strikeout stuff with wildly inconsistent command. Stephenson and Brock Burke may be the only locks for next year’s season-opening bullpen right now, and that’s obviously conditional on the former staying healthy after two injury-wrecked years.
Missed all of 2024 after signing for Anaheim. Only pitched 1 inning this year. Not a very good deal for the Angels with only 2026 left. (Then again, they have a history of those deals.)
Another one of Perry’s masterpieces. And even if he turns it around they will hold on to him at the deadline to make a push for 80 wins
Guys, last year is meaningless. It automatically extended the contract by a year.
Did you know prior to 2024 that Stephenson would get hurt? Do you really expect GM’s to have a crystal ball that tells them when players will get hurt 3 months after signing with the team?
Well I said he could turn it around. The problem is Angels every year have assets and never sell and never come close to a playoff spot. Turning down 2 months of Ohtani for Caminero is an all time awful decision to not pull the trigger on
Amk… I don’t think the Angels are close. It’s a bad team in virtually every respect. Baserunning, defense, offense, bullpen, starters.
Worst outfield defense in baseball, 28th worst catching defense in baseball, Worst left side of the infield defense in baseball.
They have to realize there is a problem, and they don’t.
Amazingly, the right side of the infield defense is pretty good.
@clofeesz. He has a very cheap club option. I wouldn’t say it was a bad deal just yet if he has two good years from now its a wash.
Organization bereft of talent.
Literally everyone saw that deal as bad from the start because never trust Tampa arms to stay healthy
Literally?
I don’t see it bad yet. I’m thrilled he missed last year. What good would he have done and it extended the contract.
It basically is the Lackey deal, which turned out pretty well.
The story isn’t written.
@halo11fan.i agree if he can pitch the next 2 1/3 seasons its a wash. Not a very big sample size but he looked lights out in his one inning debut.
I’m no fan of Minasian, but I’m not throwing him under the bus for this. I still think this may work out.
“Reid Detmers is a quality reliever but might get a chance to compete for a rotation spot next spring.”
If Detmers is even remotely considered for our rotation in 2026, the team has learned nothing in the last miserable decade of sub-.500 ball.
Eric Kaross put in best during the dodgers angels telecast: you mean to tell me you can’t develop this guy into a starter?” No they can’t.
His arm hasn’t given him a chance to repeat that performance.”
And Rendon’s hip hasn’t given him the chance to repeat his performances too. Mike Trout’s knee. etc.
Angels need to re-sign Jansen.
He just wants to get saves. It’s a good fit for both, the Angels will let him pitch. No closer will have a longer leash.
Still a better signing than Rendon.