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Angels Activate Robert Stephenson

By Anthony Franco | August 22, 2025 at 6:33pm CDT

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.

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Los Angeles Angels Transactions Robert Stephenson

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View Comments (39)
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39 Comments

  1. Clofreesz

    1 month ago

    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.)

    1
    Reply
    • amk1920

      1 month ago

      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

      8
      Reply
      • Halo11Fan

        1 month ago

        Guys, last year is meaningless. It automatically extended the contract by a year.

        Reply
      • websoulsurfer

        1 month ago

        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?

        1
        Reply
        • amk1920

          1 month ago

          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

          4
          Reply
        • Halo11Fan

          1 month ago

          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.

          1
          Reply
    • Rexhudler86

      1 month ago

      @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.

      Reply
    • AnglsFan

      1 month ago

      There’s a 4th year, club option in the contract so we’ll have him for two years, assuming he stays healthy from now on.

      Reply
  2. GOP Lizards

    1 month ago

    Organization bereft of talent.

    1
    Reply
  3. sad tormented neglected mariners fan

    1 month ago

    Literally everyone saw that deal as bad from the start because never trust Tampa arms to stay healthy

    Reply
    • El Kabong

      1 month ago

      Literally?

      Reply
  4. Halo11Fan

    1 month ago

    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.

    3
    Reply
    • Rexhudler86

      1 month ago

      @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.

      2
      Reply
      • Halo11Fan

        1 month ago

        I’m no fan of Minasian, but I’m not throwing him under the bus for this. I still think this may work out.

        Reply
      • orange2001

        1 month ago

        And what are the chances that Stephenson will remain healthy for the next 2+ seasons? Slim to none.

        1
        Reply
        • Rexhudler86

          1 month ago

          @orange2001. Chances aren’t very high. Im just saying its not a bad deal just yet. I still remember loup.

          1
          Reply
        • Halo11Fan

          1 month ago

          Orange, don’t know.

          Reply
        • Halo11Fan

          1 month ago

          Orange. I disagree. After research, TJ surgery is successful 80 to 90 percent of the time, he had it shortly after his 31st birthday, he’s still within the recovery window and has a little over 1,100 professional IP. And of course he’s a relief pitcher.

          It would surprise me one bit if he was the best RP out of this pen over the next two years, I don’t think that’s the most likely outcome, but it’s well within the realm of possible outcomes.

          Reply
  5. prov356

    1 month ago

    “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.

    1
    Reply
    • Buttermaker78

      1 month ago

      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.

      3
      Reply
  6. Buttermaker78

    1 month ago

    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.

    2
    Reply
  7. kellin

    1 month ago

    Angels need to re-sign Jansen.

    1
    Reply
    • Halo11Fan

      1 month ago

      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.

      4
      Reply
      • Rexhudler86

        1 month ago

        @halo11fan. Wouldn’t surprise me if he has a home in the area from his dodger days. That’s probably why they didn’t trade him. It just lines up we need relievers and he wants to close, and he’s definitely familiar with the area. He wouldn’t get the same opportunities in San Diego or LA. Heck he might even take a discount

        2
        Reply
        • Halo11Fan

          1 month ago

          I don’t think they didn’t trade him because they promised him they wouldn’t.

          To get him to sign here, they made promises to him and I’m glad they kept them It was the honorable thing to do. Just my opinion.

          4
          Reply
        • Rexhudler86

          1 month ago

          @halo11fan. Don’t care too much about not dealing kenley. I dont understand why they didn’t trade rengifo or Anderson for even a decent international prospect. Someone with a 1.5- 2 slot would’ve been worth a shot.

          1
          Reply
        • Halo11Fan

          1 month ago

          I really think Minasian thought the Angels had a chance.

          I’ve said this for two or three years…Minasian and Moreno are the heads of this snake that must be dealt with in order for the Angels to turn this around.

          An exceptional GM might be able to turn this around with Moreno still in charge, Minasian is not even an adequate GM.

          1
          Reply
        • johnnyangel

          1 month ago

          Just because a team wants to sell it’s crap doesn’t mean someone’s going to buy.

          I can get a bunch of stuff from my aunt’s garage, for free, and yet I still don’t want any of it.

          Reply
  8. holecamels35

    1 month ago

    Still a better signing than Rendon.

    2
    Reply
  9. HBan22

    1 month ago

    Why didn’t the Angels sell at the deadline? Anyone?

    Reply
    • 14thor

      1 month ago

      Pride.

      Reply
    • HalosHeavenJJ

      1 month ago

      See: Moreno, Arturo

      Reply
  10. Local

    1 month ago

    Tyler Bremner has bullpen written all over him. He only has two usable pitches. He can’t find the strike zone with his slider. The Angels are the worst at developing young pitchers, so that slider won’t get any better. Hence, they picked a reliever at #2 overall. Hopefully, he’ll be a good one.

    Reply
  11. fansincethe80s

    1 month ago

    Because they weren’t gonna get anything but org fillers for the players on expiring contracts. They also wanted their younger players to have an opportunity to make a run at a WC spot and see what meaningful baseball was instead of playing out another season.

    Unfortunately, they have been playing to their competition level, series wins over Philly, Texas & LAD and a Split with Seattle while losing series to Oak, NYM, CWS. They’ve been meh against the teams in the middle.

    Reply
  12. HalosHeavenJJ

    1 month ago

    $22 million for 1 inning.

    Across 2 years.

    Reply
    • Halo11Fan

      1 month ago

      That’s either a disingenuous post or an ignorant one. First year doesn’t matter. The Angels now get a 2.5 million dollar option. So basically the first year is going to cost the Angels 2.5 million.

      Second point, In the year 2025, if you think you can sign a risk free free-agent for 11 million dollars, you don’t follow baseball.

      Reply
      • HalosHeavenJJ

        1 month ago

        It’s an accurate post.

        Salary in 2024: $11 million
        Salary in 2025: $11 million

        Total innings pitched: 1

        The fact the Angels have the option of paying an even older version of Stephenson $2.5 million in a 2027 season that may not happen is literally the only thing of value. And it’s not worth much.

        If you think a guy who can’t pitch now will magically be healthy and dealing two more years past his 30th birthday I’ve got a bridge for sale.

        Reply
        • Halo11Fan

          1 month ago

          It’s accurate but has no value. Everyone who ever ate a tomato in the 1800s is dead.

          That’s accurate as well, it has no value.

          How much money have the Angels paid Evan White?

          There are 2+ years left on this contract.

          Reply
        • HalosHeavenJJ

          1 month ago

          Evan White was an exchange of bad contracts. Never a guy expected to contribute.

          And he’s only played 1 fewer inning than Stephenson.

          Reply

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