The Angels are signing left-hander Tayler Saucedo, as Saucedo himself indicated recently on his personal Instagram account. The exact details of Saucedo’s contract aren’t yet known, but it’s likely to be a minor league deal with an invite to big league Spring Training.
Saucedo, 32, made his big league debut as a member of the Blue Jays back in 2021 but got the majority of his work over the years with the Mariners after Seattle picked him up off waivers prior to the 2023 season. Saucedo proved to be a viable middle relief arm for the Mariners across two seasons, pitching to a 3.54 ERA in 86 1/3 innings of work with a 21.7% strikeout rate against a walk rate of 11.0%. That latter figure is elevated relative to Saucedo’s strikeout ability, but the lefty was able to make up for it by generating an excellent 55.0% ground ball rate. Saucedo’s 3.79 FIP and 4.05 SIERA were more pedestrian than elite, but there was still reason for optimism regarding the southpaw’s profile.
That’s because Saucedo’s combination of strikeouts and grounders was very encouraging. Among relievers with a ground ball rate of 55.0% or higher between 2023 and ’24, the lefty’s strikeout rate ranked tenth. That combination of strikeouts and grounders is hard to come by, and among those who fit that bill are high-end closers like Andres Munoz and Jhoan Duran. Saucedo was held back from reaching those elite levels primarily by a his penchant for allowing free passes. While ground ball pitchers like Camilo Doval and Aaron Bummer have managed to make walk rates in the 11-12% range work in high leverage situations, they do so with a much healthier helping of strikeouts than Saucedo can muster.
Despite his flaws, Saucedo entered 2025 figuring to be a key piece of the Seattle bullpen. Unfortunately, that didn’t pan out as the lefty struggled in ten MLB appearances this year. His 7.43 ERA across 13 1/3 innings in the majors this season left him to spend most of the season at Triple-A Tacoma. After being optioned to the minors, he was sidelined for two months by a lat strain that sent his season further off the rails. The lefty looked good for Tacoma upon his return to action, with a 2.75 ERA overall across 22 appearances at the level to go with a 27.9% strikeout rate. That performance wasn’t enough to convince the Mariners to keep him in the fold, however, and he was non-tendered back in November as a result.
Now with the Angels, Saucedo figures to enter Spring Training with an opportunity to grab a spot in a mostly unsettled Angels bullpen. Robert Stephenson, Drew Pomeranz, and Kirby Yates figure to handle the late innings, while Ben Joyce will be a factor later in the year upon his return from last year’s shoulder surgery. If Saucedo finds a role in Anaheim, it figures to be in the middle innings. Besides Pomeranz, the only other lefty in the team’s current projected bullpen is Brock Burke. Burke turned in a dominant 2022 season as a member of the Rangers but has been less impressive in the years since; he posted 3.36 ERA with a 4.16 FIP in 69 appearances for the Angels last year. That’s solid enough production for a middle relief lefty, but there could still be room for Saucedo to join Burke (as well as righty Jordan Romano) in the middle innings.
Very on brand singing for the Cornholios of Los Angelo. Saucy!
7.43 ERA across 13 1/3 innings in the majors in 2025. I would argue that was a crappy performance. There is not enough TP for his bunghole.
That’s an awful lot of former Jays pitching…it can only work out well right? Right???
Saucedo is short for the common last name “Saucedog”
Ummm maybe something fishy here in the stats. Mr. Deeds writes: “Saucedo proved to be a viable middle relief arm for the Mariners across two seasons, pitching to a 3.54 ERA in 86 1/3 innings of work with a 21.7% strikeout rate…” How exactly is striking out 81 in 86 1/3 innings only 21.7%? By my math that’s a 31.3% strikeout rate. Am I wrong?
Use PAs.
Ahh okay. Plate appearances instead of total outs. But still nearly a strikeout an inning is good. I’ll take that. Good signing if he can rebound.
Around 129 batters reached base against Saucedo in those 86.1 innings, thats around 375 PAs, 81 K’s is good for around 21% K rate.
His WHIP is rather high but he gets ground balls to make up for it and his K/9 and HR/9 are both good numbers too.
He is pitching around a lot of righties but you look at his ’23 split and he had great results with a .248/.384/.336 against RHB.
A good pitcher. Effective against both RHB and LHB.
Too much (clap clap) time on your hands
This signing is gravy.
Maybe he can cover the meat of the order in the 6th inning.
I see what you did there camper van
@redstitch108. The fact he broke the news on his Instagram. Probably means its a minor league deal, and he will be triple A all year. So at the end of day it won’t matter.
Agree. But I will hope he will be an effective depth piece, something this team is seriously lacking.
C’mon. Give us Angels fans a reason to come to the games.
We’re just treading water at best to finish in last place again.
Try something unique. Trade the entire team for the Rockies entire team.
Outside of Neto, definitely more young talent in their organization.
Angel games are actually really fun. The crowd is friendly even if you cheer for the opposing teams and they have some great food.
Yea, I think you nailed the problem
I like it. This is their 4th RP added to a team that finished 28th in BP ERA. That should add a few wins at a cheap cost, and maybe provide 1-2 trading chips.
@joebrady. Yeah it’s a backup plan. Don’t think we have any roster spots, and he probably doesn’t have a clause saying he can opt if he doesn’t make the team by a certain time. So it’s someone to stash
I’m not sure that these new arms are necessarily an improvement (at this juncture of their careers) from what they had last season.
It’s the same thing every year. Perry hoping for players to rebound and regain their old form.
Like I said, 1-2 should be worth something at the deadline. But more importantly, there is nothing the Angels can or should do. They are almost certainly locked into last place.
Who exactly will have value? How much value did Archie Bradley or Aaron Loup have? Or Ryan Tepera or Matt Moore? And when a player pans out, like Kenley Jansen, they hold onto them, then lose them in free agency for nothing.
And they will continue being a bad team following the same formula and staying pat.
Assuming Yates can duplicate Kenley Jansen’s numbers from last season. This is a minor signing, an extra arm for AAA. Anything the Angels get from Saucedo will be a surprise. Minasian continues to sign old men for the team. If you have a last place team, which the Angels are, you should be going with young players not Social Security recipients.
Saucey signing.
If you throw enough mud at a wall, you would think some would stick, but when Minasian throws mud on wall, the wall actually cleans itself.
I am sorry but this is just pathetic, more of the same. A bunch of so, so reliever signings that never pan out. I am just waiting to hear which washed up veteran is next.
I like their reliever signings this time. Yates, Pomeranz, and Romano have a lot of talent and they were all affordable enough.
I think the lack of spending is good news. They are not even trying.
I can only hope this leads to Moreno selling the team and a complete restructuring of the organization by a new owner.
We are all optimistic in different ways.
I just published a piece illustrating how ripe this franchise is for a sale.
The entire executive suite is Arte’s friends who can be replaced immediately. The entire coaching staff is in one year deals. Trout and Kikuchi are the only players guaranteed money in 2027 and that is Kikuchi’s last year.
The TV contract has been reworked. The direct streaming app is running. The City will begin taking new bids on the stadium site fairly soon.
If a new owner wants a blank canvas they can immediately remake that’s the Angels.
I don’t believe Arte would have extended the lease like he did a few weeks ago if he was planning to sell. Nice try HHJJ.
That actually gives a new owner stadium and cost certainty.
It is definitely wishful thinking on my part but new owners like you immediately remake a franchise. And the Angels have no long term issues other than Trout.
HHJ-From what I read last week. The Angels TV deal is getting smaller and smaller.
Yes. And there’s speculation it ends sooner than the original 2031 agreement.
The TV money revenues and league wide sharing are the biggest economic issues in baseball. At least for the non Dodgers, Yanks, and Cubs of the league.
Clearing payroll for 2027 after the collective bargaining agreement. Is Moreno giving up, or do the Angels have plans to sign a major free agent? This offseason reminds me of the last five years, by signing a few players with upside. Then it all falls apart mid season when injuries, poor play, lack of talent, and minor league depth is exposed.
Unless the Angels make a big move to fill a big hole in the heart of the lineup, centerfield, and third base. It does seem like Moreno is getting ready to sell. This current team has a lot of guys with potential, but that’s what we’ve had for the last years,. Will Suzuki and his coaching staff be able to unlock their potential and turn these guys into stars?
@alexpulido. Wouldn’t surprise me if they get castelleanos and arenado. They can flip casty and Nolan is the third baseman for 2 years and move trout to cf this year.
I’ve seen some speculation that Moreno might wait to sell until after the expected lock out (because franchise values could go up if owners are able to put stronger limits on payrolls.).
Of course, I’d love to see the team sold this off season. And if Mark Cuban is part of new ownership, even better. A fan can dream.
How about someone with deep pockets instead? Cuban is way too political. I wouldn’t want Musk to buy the team either.
I’m sick of politics and entertainment mixing. And baseball is entertainment.
I wasn’t really thinking about politics when I threw out Cuban’s name. I just liked it that he took over a terrible Mavericks franchise and turned them into winners (including a ring). I also like it that he seems to love sports and respect the players.
But I’ll take just about any owner or ownership group that understands that there is a ton of money to be had if they prioritize winning and bring in strong baseball people and let them do their jobs.
I also hope the MLB will do everything it can to screen out any potential Moreno/McCourt types.
I completely get your point of view. We both want a deep pockets owner who will hire good baseball people, rebuild our infrastructure and let his baseball people run the franchise.
Moreno does none of those things.
Moreno definitely seems to be planning around the lockout.
There were reports when the team was up for sale that the Skaggs trial was a big concern. Diamond Spirts being in BK at the time had to hurt too.
Hopefully he sells soon. It’s obvious that’s the only way the team gets new executives.
Well, that’s the only way the team gets good executives.
HHJJ – I still contend the the team was never officially for sale. Moreno was very careful to use the phrase “exploring a sale” to see if anyone might entertain his ridiculous price. I don’t think there were ever any serious negotiations.
We know, it’s not up for debate, that Moreno hired a company to find a buyer.
What I heard is after hiring this company, Arte did not want to pay the “finders fee”. Maybe it’s because he couldn’t get the price he wanted.
I was hoping after this “finders fee” expired, he was going to sell the team. Obviously, that hasn’t happened.
Everything does point to Arte selling the team. One year manager, Perry is in the last year, lawsuit settled, and lots of cap space. Fingers are crossed, but Arte has engineered innovative ways to disappoint us all before that I didn’t believe were possible.
The noodles were fine, but you really ought to try that Sauce do.
These are the kind of signings they should be making every year especially with the farm system the way it currently is. Stock up on players, specifically pitching, on minor league deals to build out some depth when one of Perry’s Jack Kochanowicz or Stephenson type moves blows up in the Halos face there is something serviceable to bring up. The moves they have already made should be background moves they make every year with a couple real moves made on top of these type of deals.
Seattle-LA. AL West switch.
That’s how you make up for missing out on Okamoto.
lol dumpster diving and bargain shopping whatever you wanna call it haven’t done nothing
Let’s review the Angels and Perry Moronassian ‘s off season. Can we all say it is a carbon copy of the last three
✅ Trade an established major league hitter with 37 home runs for a pitcher that was a top prospect at one time coming off major arm injuries the last two years and is a huge question mark
✅ Sign a pitcher that was fantastic two years ago. Then forgot how to pitch had major arm injuries and is on his third team in 6 months
✅ Sign a one time highly touted prospect with ties to the braves who cannot hit major league pitching
✅ Sing two pitchers for the bullpen that were both great 6 years ago that will both he DFA candidates by the all star break
✅ Sing a pitcher who is out of options who only has 56 innings of mlb experience and walks to many hitters
✅ Sing a pitcher who was very good before the pandemic then had arm issues and was so bad in the minor he was forced to pitch overseas and wait for it with ties to the Braves
✅ Trade for a middle infielder who at one time could hit but injuries set in and he has not hit above .190 in three years. And guess what. With ties to the braves
✅ Sing a 39 year old reliever who watched his era balloon over five and has hardly pitched due to arm and back problems.
✅ Rendon well SMH LOL 🤮 good riddance. Sums that one up
✅ Hire your fourth manager in five seasons who has not managed a game in little league let alone the minors or the show and give him a one year deal.
✅ Be alleged in on Okamoto a player that said naw I’m good I am gonna sing with a team that is worse than yours because they actually have a direction and are improving
✅ allegedly be in on Nolan Arenado a third baseman that was good four years ago and cannot hit now and his current team is so desperate to get rid of the money. He would be this years Jorge Soler
✅Miss out on another player from Japan who said no I think I will go play third for a team that just came off a World Series appearance
✅ Sing a left handed reliever who was good at one time and then in typical Angel player requirement got hurt and had his career completely implode
Yet still have not filled the holes of CF,3B, Lf, back of the rotation, closer and anyone that can hit above .230
The quest for 100 losses in in full effect
Operation extreme redundancy is moving along
Love ya Perry and Artie
What is the over and under how many times Soccer Ref checks in to see if how many thumbs ups he gets for his long winded response to a minor league signing.?
For the record yes this was a Long-winded response. It was a recap of how pathetic this off-season is going and how this team has absolutely no direction or plan other than to sign some has been never will be or injured players
I grew up at Angel Stadium. I went to my first game at four years old. I still have the tickets stub and program. I’ve sat through Bob Boone Donnie Moore 1986 Wally world Rod Carew getting his 3000 hit I still have that ticket stub. Jim Abbott, chuck Finley the 2002 magical run Bartolo big daddy Vladimir Shohei, Mike Trout. All of it.
I now get to take my autistic son to games and he even shakes his head with what this team is doing
This is a forum to express our feelings if you wanna say I suck fine if you wanna say I’m long-winded fine. That is your first amendment, right offer an opinion tell me why I should think one of these guys is good Give me the Roger Lodge response. God love that man.
Do you wanna see and make fun of me that you’re right but show me something different for a change
Um…I think in response to soccer_rf’s post, you meant a minor league “singing” lol!
A good amount if effort put in just to suck
Great news! This means he won’t be returning to the M’s.
What’s the point of restructuring Rendon’s contract if the Angels don’t plan on getting near the salary cap? This would only make sense if there’s a big signing or two, with possibility big trade that involves the Angels taking up a large chunk of salary.
People check your calendars it’s 1/4/2026 plenty of time to do other things SMH.
Yeah, it’s January 4, 2026
are you saying to be patient? That there’s “plenty of time” Sorry, but the calendar doesn’t fix third base. It doesn’t sign a starter. It doesn’t build a bullpen. And certainly the calendar is not gonna sign an outfielder.
If you think wait until March to save the 2026 season… there is no plan.
How many times have we rebuilt the bullpen in the last 4 seasons? It is January and 60% of the free agents that would help this team are already house shopping in their new city
You can do a lot of things between now and opening day.
Angels Sign Tayler Saucedo: A Throwback Move for a Throwback Fanbase
Remember when you’d gather up pop bottles, around the neighborhood march ‘em down to the liquor store, and cash in that sweet three-cent deposit? If you were lucky, you’d walk out with a Snickers or a pack of Topps baseball cards maybe even pull a Reggie or Nolan Ryan if the baseball gods were smiling.
Well, the Angels just did the same thing.
They scrounged up some spare change, turned in a few bottles, and came home with Tayler Saucedo a lefty reliever with a rubber arm and a chip on his shoulder. It’s not flashy. It’s not a blockbuster. But it’s a move that says, “We’re still trying… kinda.”
Is it enough? Who knows. But for a fanbase raised on cardboard heroes and candy bars dreams, maybe this is the kind of gritty, blue-collar bullpen piece we can root for.
Now if only Arte would cash in a few more bottles and buy us a third baseman.
Is Artie Moreno even aware he still owns the Angels?
Because from where we’re sitting, it sure doesn’t look like it. The team’s got holes all over the roster third base, outfield, starting rotation, bullpen and the silence from ownership is deafening. No urgency. No vision. Just the same tired pattern of patchwork moves and bargain-bin pickups.
Artie doesn’t make public appearances. He doesn’t address the fans. He doesn’t explain the plan if there even is one.
At this point, you have to wonder: is it apathy, age, or just plain denial? The fans haven’t forgotten who’s steering this ship. We just wish Arte remember too.
So he’s a micro manager involved in every aspect of the team, or he’s not aware he’s running it?
At least I’m consistent. He mismanages the big things while Minasian mismanages everything else.
Us Angels are trying to get over the Case of Soda’s Arte spent a ton of $$$ on only to open each can and find out nothing came out? We finally forced to take the empty cans back for recycling . We’re currently standing in line with our receipt to collect 10 cents for our investment.
Newspaper and other media outlets reported Arte and his frat brothers spent the last couple of months of 2025 in court.
They were hoping to get a non-guilty judgement for the death of Tyler Skaggs.
As the jury was deliberating they reached a settlement with the Skaggs family . They were seeking $150M
As of January 4, 2026
2026 Batting Order
1 Nolan Schanuel 1B
2 Vaughn Grissom 3B
3 Zach Neto SS
4 Mike Trout DH
5 Jo Adell LF
6 Logan O’Hoppe C
7 Christian Moore 2B
8 Jorge Soler RF
9 Bryce Teodosio CF
How does that sit with you guys?
Like the cheap tequila bad tacos and beer sitting in my stomach the next morning
Love it.
I really like the signing. The Halos have been doing their homework this offseason. I’m not a fan of Kochanowicz, but he can be an extreme groundball pitcher with velocity of 97+. This signing demotes Silseth, Dana, Farriss, Bachman, the Italian Stallion and Klassen to delegated starting and relieving roles in the Minor Leagues. If they get to the All-Star break and this collection of pitchers are doing very well at hitting-friendly Salt Lake, we might see Mike Maddux spooging all over the dugout. The Angels are becoming the new home for reclamation pitching projects, but they finally have a great well-respected pitching coach. Many people don’t realize the Angels have one of the best collection of talented arms in the lower minors. Minaasian’s continuous over-drafting of high school and college pitchers during the Angels’down years has the team set-up to have the best controllable pitching staff in all of baseball. The Halos will be able to trade their upcoming surplus of controllable pitching to get anything they need on Offense. I’m beginning to see the blueprint, especially with the signing of Grayson Rodriguez.
I have been off the sauce for almost 20/years. That’s why I am still here.