Angels pitchers and catchers are scheduled for their first workout of spring training on Wednesday. As we count down the days until camp begins, we are going through the various position groups to give a breakdown of where the roster stands. Today is the final installment: the bullpen. Previously, the outfielders, catchers, infielders and starting rotation.

2025 RECAP

By this time a year ago, the Angels didn’t even have the pitcher who became their best reliever. Kenley Jansen signed a free agent deal on the eve of the first workout, and he delivered 29 saves with a 2.59 ERA. The second-best story in the bullpen was the emergence of left-hander Reid Detmers, who was moved out of the rotation. After a rough stretch in early May, Detmers was dominant for months, finishing with a 3.96 ERA. Left-hander Brock Burke posted a 3.36 ERA. Beyond those three, though, the bullpen was inconsistent. Right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn slipped to a 4.74 ERA after an encouraging debut in 2024. Two of the pitchers with the most potential – right-handers Robert Stephenson and Ben Joyce – barely pitched, because of injuries. Stephenson pitched 10 innings and Joyce pitched 4⅓. Overall, the Angels’ 4.86 bullpen ERA ranked 28th in the majors.

HOW IT LOOKS RIGHT NOW

With Jansen gone as a free agent, the Angels have a void at the closer role. They have four pitchers who could wind up with the job. The long-term answer is Joyce, who throws 105 mph and can be dominant. His problem is that he’s been injured often, including shoulder surgery that cost him most of the season. The Angels will be cautious with him, so it’s uncertain if he’ll be ready by Opening Day. Stephenson, who has pitched in just 12 games in the first two years of his three-year, $33 million deal, is healthy heading into spring training. The Angels also signed two veteran free agents who have been closers. Right-hander Kirby Yates, 38, was one of the best relievers in baseball in 2024, before enduring an injury-marred season with the Dodgers in 2025. Right-hander Jordan Romano, 32, is also trying to revive his career with the Angels after injuries ruined his past two seasons. The Angels also signed left-hander Drew Pomeranz, 37, who is coming off a 2.17 ERA with the Chicago Cubs. On Thursday morning, they reportedly agreed to a deal with free agent left-hander Brent Suter, who had a 4.52 ERA with the Cincinnati Reds last season. The Angels also have two relievers who are out of options, seemingly giving them a strong shot at breaking camp in the bullpen. Right-hander Chase Silseth has been up and down between the majors and minors in the past few years. Right-hander Kaleb Ort, who was claimed on waivers, has pitched parts of the last five seasons with the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros. One of the most intriguing non-roster invites is right-hander Nick Sandlin, who has a career 3.19 ERA. He was hurt for much of last season with the Toronto Blue Jays.

THE NEXT LAYER

Besides Sandlin, the Angels have the usual corps of veteran major-league relievers coming to camp on minor-league deals. Left-handers Taylor Saucedo and Angel Perdomo are the most experienced of the group. Among Angels prospects, right-handers José Fermin and Sam Bachman and left-hander Sammy Natera Jr. are two of the pitchers closest to making an impact in the big leagues. The best future Angels relievers could be from the group of pitchers currently considered starters, pitchers like right-handers Victor Mederos, Jack Kochanowicz and George Klassen. Last week, the Angels acquired left-hander Jayvien Sandridge from the New York Yankees. Sandridge has 356 strikeouts in 241⅓ innings in the minors.

MOVE THEY COULD MAKE

The last-minute deal for Suter took care of their only bullpen need that they could realistically fill before spring training. Now, the question is going to be which of their starters they move to the bullpen. Although Klassen is one of their top pitching prospects, right now it looks like he may not have enough besides his 100 mph fastball to get him through lineups three times, so he could project as a late-inning reliever.