Proper-hander Robert Stephenson and the Los Angeles Angels are in settlement on a three-year, $33 million contract that features a conditional possibility that may very well be triggered if Stephenson misses a selected period of time attributable to an elbow damage, sources aware of the deal informed ESPN on Sunday evening.
The contract, anticipated to be official as soon as Stephenson completes a bodily on Monday, landed the Angels the very best reliever left in the marketplace — one who parlayed an unbelievable second half of final season right into a deal value $11 million per 12 months.
With questions on Stephenson’s elbow well being — he started final season on the injured record with elbow soreness — the Angels will obtain an possibility for the 2027 season at $2.5 million if his elbow wants Tommy John surgical procedure or causes a protracted absence, in accordance with sources.
They paid closely for Stephenson’s contract, giving him the second-most cash for a free agent reliever this winter, behind Josh Hader’s five-year, $95 million cope with the Houston Astros, the Angels’ American League West rival.
The Angels completed final season with a 4.88 ERA, the sixth worst in baseball. Past incumbent nearer Carlos Estevez, the Angels’ bullpen was filled with alternative, and Stephenson joins right-handed relievers Adam Cimber and Luis Garcia and left-handed reliever Adam Kolarek as free agent signings by Los Angeles.
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After the Tampa Bay Rays acquired Stephenson from the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 2, he spent the ultimate 4 months as the most effective relievers in baseball. In 38â…“ innings with the Rays, Stephenson struck out 60 hitters and walked simply eight, posting a 2.35 ERA in 42 video games.
It was the very best stretch of a profession that beforehand had seen him register as a below-league-average pitcher. Whereas Stephenson had flirted with excessive strikeout charges, he got here into 2023 with a 4.90 ERA in 312 profession innings. The Angels will depend on him to assist a staff that misplaced famous person Shohei Ohtani to free company however nonetheless aspires to be aggressive below new supervisor Ron Washington and with famous person Mike Trout returning.
The Angels might proceed so as to add in free company and have thought of signing one of many marquee gamers on the free agent market — specifically, left-hander Blake Snell and first baseman/centerfielder Cody Bellinger.
Following a 73-89 end in 2023, they would wish so as to add expertise to compete inside their spectacular division, which incorporates the reigning World Sequence champion Texas Rangers in addition to the Astros and the Seattle Mariners, all of whom have postseason aspirations.