Robert Stephenson’s tenure with the Angels got off to an unwelcome start when the reliever had to start the season on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder inflammation. The righty provided MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger with an update, saying that his hope is to be available before April is over, though he’ll first need to complete a rehab assignment.
The shoulder soreness first arose before the Angels’ spring camp even opened, and as a result, Stephenson wasn’t able to pitch at all in the Cactus League. Stephenson will therefore need some extra ramp-up time to try and simulate the Spring Training experience, though he has already started to pick up his throwing progressions. The right-hander had his first bullpen session on Thursday and another is planned for Monday.
Los Angeles signed Stephenson to a three-year, $33MM free agent deal in January, as the 31-year-old was handsomely rewarded for a major in-season turnaround. With a penchant for inconsistency both as a starter and then after he became a full-time reliever in 2019, Stephenson had a 5.14 ERA in 14 innings for the Pirates before the Bucs dealt him to Tampa in a somewhat under-the-radar deal. Stephenson then became the latest in the Rays’ long line of pitching reclamation projects, as he broke out with a 2.35 ERA, eight percent walk rate, and a fantastic 38.3% strikeout rate over 38 1/3 innings in a Tampa Bay uniform.
While the shoulder injury isn’t the best start to a $33MM deal, the Angels are betting that Stephenson can keep the magic going to become a lockdown member of their bullpen. The Halos invested heavily in their relief corps (and not much else) this winter, adding Stephenson, Matt Moore, Luis Garcia, Adam Cimber, and Jose Cisnero as part of an extensive bullpen overhaul.
A very well needed return.
Busy writing his long awaited sequel to Treasure Island.
Meanwhile, the Angels dedicate this season to … Pew.
Will he eventually be their closer?
Will this team ever need a closer?
The Angels “investing” in the bullpen made about as much sense as Oakland or Colorado investing in the bullpen. It won’t make much difference if the team scores only a couple of runs a game. This offense already looks dismal.
The organization is moribund. Free Trout!
Who evaluates possible talent. Seems they often sign damage goods. Medical staff also needs to be looked into.
The scouting department needs changes as does ownership. Please spend more on developing and scouting.
Minasian is about as inept as they come, I’m afraid. He has done very little to impress while he’s been there. Maybe Moreno will only allow weak middle managers to rise up to the GM job.(Although I’m a big fan of Jerry Dipoto’s post-Angels output.)
Dipoto likely clashed with Moreno’s constant meddling.
I can tell you for a fact Moreno is why Dipoto resigned.
And Arte will sell the team. I won’t tell you why, but it behooves him financially to wait.
Moreno hand picks, all Big free agents not DiPoto not Eppler not Reagan and not Minasian so let’s review Moreno personally hand picked out Josh Hamilton, Albert Pujols, Anthony Rendon all three signings disasters set us back, eight years and counting you know the old saying don’t put your eggs all in one basket
Vlad Guerrero. Torri Hunter. Colon won a Cy Young. Weavers and Trout’s extension.
Pujols led to a 3 Billion dollar TV deal.
Arte has a better record than I thought.
At the rate they are playing, they will be mathematically eliminated by then
I have no idea why Soriano wasn’t brought in with the game on the line?
Garcia isn’t good. Neither is Zuniga.
Who built this team?
Sounds like your concern is more with Washington’s bullpen usage than Minasian’s roster construction.
There are not enough billets in the gun, but in this case, yes.
Stephenson will be a welcome addition. I questioned why Canning came out to start the sixth when it’s his first start of the season and he was at 85ish pitches thru five.
I’m assuming the bullpen answered that question.
Canning was gassed and promptly gave up a walk and single to open the 6th so I think that was Washington’s biggest mistake.
I really wish Schanuel would lead off with Trout second.
Schanuel gets on base, but is slow, ground ball, machine which spells countless DPs.
Have Neto bat ninth and then do things when Schanuel is up.
And for goodness sakes….play Moniak and Adell over Sano and Hicks. Let’s find out who the former are.
They may suck, but the later have removed all doubt.
No, no, no, NO! Keep Renton batting lead-off. He’s currently just 0-19 ( or 0-2024) depending on your point of view. My prediction is that after going 0-40, he will pull a hamstring desperately trying to beat out an infield dribbler for his first hit of the season, and hit the DL for 2 months.
Arte Moreno is blame not building up the farm system.sure would’ve been nice to get some prospects for Shohei Ohtani, Mr. Moreno this year‘s trading deadline please trade Mike Trout to the Philadelphia Phillies. You didn’t deserve Shohei Ohtani you certainly don’t deserve Mike Trout please sell the team.
Sell the damn team, Moreno. You are the devil to my Angels.
Moreno ‘s horns are showing the devil in disguise you’ll have a good tax write off for next year
^-^
He’ll rehab up north and take this thing called a paddle boat on the Mississippi River over Boeing to his next start.
Welp, suddenly we’ve won 3 in a row and Anderson was lights out tonight. It’s that false hope early on that happens every year.