The Angels are going to sign left-hander Joey Lucchesi, reports Jon Heyman of The New York Post. Heyman adds that the CAA Sports client is expected to be on the Opening Day roster, suggesting it’s a major league deal. That would mean the Halos would need a corresponding 40-man move. They have some candidates to move to the 60-day injured list, with Anthony Rendon being an obvious one, but they may also need spots for Adam Frazier and Jeimer Candelario if they plan to roster those guys.
Lucchesi, 33 in June, was in camp with the Giants on a minor league deal as of a few days ago. He was granted his release, which may or may not have involved him triggering an opt-out in that deal. Regardless, he was back on the open market and the Halos have scooped him up.
The southpaw has been a starter or swingman for most of his career. 2025 was his first big league season where he pitched exclusively as a reliever. He averaged just under 93 miles per hour with both his four-seamer and his sinker while also throwing a low-80s splitter and high-70s curveball. He gave the Giants 38 1/3 innings over 38 appearances, allowing 3.76 earned runs per nine frames. His 18.8% strikeout rate was subpar but his 7.3% walk rate was good and he induced grounders on 53% of balls in play.
The Giants could have retained Lucchesi for 2026 via arbitration, with MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projecting him for a $2MM salary. Instead, they non-tendered him and then re-signed him to a minor league deal that would have paid him $1.5MM in the majors. As mentioned, they released him from that pact a few days ago.
The Angels signed Kirby Yates, Jordan Romano, Drew Pomeranz and Brent Suter to free agent deals this offseason. No one in that group can be optioned to the minors. Chase Silseth is out of options. Guys like Ryan Zeferjahn, Sam Bachman and Walbert Ureña seemed to be trending to Opening Day jobs but all three can be optioned. Perhaps one of them will get bumped to the minors to make room for Lucchesi, though knocking out Silseth could be a way for the club to open a 40-man spot.
Photo courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images
This is it! What! Lucchini pouring from the sky let’s get rich WHAT!
Was not expecting a Camp Lo reference, but THIS IS IT, what.
Wanted Atlanta to grab him. Dang it, Alex!
Why sign another decent pitcher? They can just throw Elder twice a week!
Good point. Maybe they can have him be the bulk reliever every day. Only 3-4 innings per day of course.
Obviously scouts see things differently, but at this price, I’m surprised the Braves didn’t add him. You only need ten mediocre starts before you re-assess.
Huge
Another cast off the Angels get!
Astros 71
The Astros sign Christian Vazquez a re-tread catcher and I do not see you mocking them for it!
Go troll somewhere else.
Vazquez is not a re tard. And he is the third best option for a catcher and best at this point, there are still other relievers like Justin Wilson, Michael Kopech, that don’t have a job.
And also Vazquez won his job in spring training.
Yes, defend Vazquez and his OPS+ of 52 while criticizing Lucchesi and his ERA+ of 107. Great work.
But what about Vazquez’s defense?
what about Kopech’s injury history and nearly 25% walk rate?
You are really going to defend yourself on this?
Vazquez is a journeyman backup catcher that batted .189 last year.
You gave it a good try, but tonight is just not your night. Take a seat lil’ slugger.
Let the wise cracks and lists begin!
Angels need help and no matter who it is, the replies will spew in negatitiy.
Maybe a decade of losing seasons, drug scandals, bribery scandals, gaslighting, interviews stating that fans don’t prioritize winning, averaging 90 losses over last five seasons, payroll cutting in a big market, etc….have left Angels fans a bit skeptical.
I was very surprised Giants did not hang on to him. Angels always need pitching.
The Angels bullpen is basically a half built IKEA dresser right now pieces everywhere, instructions missing, and nobody totally sure who’s supposed to close games. Kurt Suzuki hasn’t named a closer, and honestly, The job is wide open.
If you’re interested in the closer job
Send your résumé to
East Gene Autry Way
Anaheim, CA 92806
I’m not knocking Joey Lucchesi swing man relief, long man if I had to cut someone it have to be
Mike Soroka
I do have a LUCCHESI end table at home
I had Lucchese boots and my wife hated the snake skin.
In Jimmy Hergret fashion they will probably cut Silseth which would be the worst possible decision. What else does the guy have to prove besides staying healthy. The Angel bullpen might surprise this year if everyone can stay healthy.
@rontingley. They could always send Johnson or urena down. Keep luchessi and release whoever implodes my guess is its Romano or have luchessi as the fifth starter. As long as they have quick hooks on these cheap one year deals. I dont care.
Joeys days as a starter are done. Maybe swing at best with 3 ings per start
Ace, yup!
I like it
So, the Angels will win 62 instead of 61 games because of him? What difference does that make? The worst owner and the even worse GM getting satisfaction knowing they made a difference?
It’ll be 63 wins. Only team to never lose 100 games!
The Angels will win the west. Jack Kochanowicz will win comeback player of the year. Jo Adell will hit 50 home runs and Mike Trout wins his 4th MVP. THE Angeks will not release Chase Silseth. You just look at stats and must never see these guys pitch.
You wish LOL
Zeferjahn is the guy to go. Dude coughed up 2 bombs last night and really hasn’t been good in a long while.
Precisely who I was thinking.
Zeferjahn can still be useful but needs to clean some things up.
If anyone can get the most out of Yates, Romano, Lucchesi, Frazier, and Candelario; it’s the Angels. One of the best when it comes to player development and resurrecting careers.
Generally yes, but now we have Mike Maddux
The last time Yates and him worked together was incredible.
This guy looks exactly like a capo in the Lucchese family I used to go to the track with. I think he changed the spelling of his last name & made Arte an offer he couldn’t refuse. 🤣
Maybe a good move. We’ll see.
Well pitched game tonight.
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It would be great to see trout play the whole season and make it to the playoffs. Who knows what would happen