Los Angeles Angels News

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Josh Lowe • RF • Angels

Angels Expect Josh Lowe to be Ready for Opening Day

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Lowe (oblique) will likely start hitting in minor-league games in spring training this weekend, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. Lowe can rack up at-bats in minor-league games, so the Angels are currently expecting him to be ready for Opening Day in late March. More oblique issues this spring have limited the left-handed slugger to only three Cactus League games as he gets ready for his first season in Anaheim in 2026. Lowe was a former 13th overall selection in 2016, but he just hasn't panned out in five major-league seasons, hitting .250/.306/.414 with a .721 OPS, 43 home runs, 170 RBI, 188 runs scored, and 79 stolen bases in 403 games played. He does have two 20-homer seasons and plenty of speed, but his recurring oblique injuries make him hard to trust as outfield depth in fantasy in mixed leagues. RotoBaller currently has Lowe ranked as the No. 67 fantasy outfielder.

21 hours ago

Robert Stephenson • RP • Angels

Robert Stephenson to Face Live Hitters on Friday

Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever Robert Stephenson (shoulder) will face live hitters in camp for the first time this spring on Friday, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. It's a big step for Stephenson, who still believes that he'll be ready for Opening Day later this month. The 33-year-old veteran missed all of the 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery and made only 12 appearances for the Halos last year due to thoracic outlet syndrome and nerve issues in his shoulder. Stephenson had a 2.70 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 10:3 K:BB in his 10 innings a year ago. The Angels don't have a set closer going into the 2026 regular season, so there's a chance Stephenson could rack up some save opportunities if he's healthy. However, he has only three career saves, making Kirby Yates and Ben Joyce (shoulder) more likely candidates for ninth-inning work.

5 days ago

Kirby Yates • RP • Angels

Is Kirby Yates the Favorite for Closing Duties in Anaheim?

Veteran right-handed reliever Kirby Yates signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels for the 2026 season, and he could be a favorite for save chances to begin the year. Yates will have to earn it this spring, but there is a potential opening at the back end of the Halos' bullpen with both right-handers Ben Joyce (shoulder) and Robert Stephenson (elbow) recovering from injuries. The two-time All-Star has 98 saves in his 11-year big-league career. He was an All-Star as recently as 2024 with the Texas Rangers, when he had a 1.17 ERA and 33 saves in 61 2/3 innings pitched. Yates had a career-high 41 saves for the San Diego Padres in 2019 as well, so he has plenty of experience being the guy in the ninth inning. It makes him a sleeper target for saves speculators, but he's coming off a 5.23 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and only three saves with the Dodgers last year, and once Joyce and Stephenson are ready, manager Kurt Suzuki will potentially be looking at a four-reliever committee for saves.

6 days ago

Zach Neto • SS • Angels

Zach Neto Scorching-Hot Early in Spring Training

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto hit an RBI double off the base of the left-field wall in Cactus League action on Monday against the Kansas City Royals and is now hitting .400 with a 1.267 OPS in spring training, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. The 25-year-old closed out his 2025 campaign on the injured list with a left-hand strain, but he's completely healthy now and has picked up where he left off. He finished 2025 with a .257/.319/.474 slash line, career-best .793 OPS, career-high 26 home runs, 62 RBI, 82 runs scored, and 26 stolen bases in 554 plate appearances over 128 games played. Neto ranked in the top 10% in xwOBA on contact and was also in the top 15% of the league in barrel rate and xSLG. He's proving to be the real deal, and he could improve even more if he lowers his strikeout rate and increases his walk rate. Over a full season, Neto has 30-30 potential as a clear top-10 fantasy shortstop.

Mar 2

Grayson Rodriguez • SP • Angels

Grayson Rodriguez Happy With his Secondary Pitches

Los Angeles Angels right-hander Grayson Rodriguez is happy with his slider and curveball in spring training, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. "This is the best those two pitches have ever been. So I've got that going for me. Heater is obviously there. The velocity is there. One big thing for me, and kind of what's been in the past, is working on command," Rodriguez said. The 26-year-old missed all of last year with the Baltimore Orioles due to elbow and lat injuries, but he appears to be fully healthy this spring as he enters his first season with the Angels. In his lone Cactus League outing last week against the San Francisco Giants, G-Rod allowed a run on one hit and three walks while striking out two batters in 1 2/3 innings. His command left a lot to be desired, but the primary takeaway is that Rodriguez is healthy. Durability is a question mark, but Rodriguez has displayed elite upside in the past, making him worth a late-round flier in mixed fantasy leagues.

Mar 2

José Soriano • SP • Angels

Jose Soriano has Start Pushed Back

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jose Soriano (illness) has been scratched ahead of his scheduled start on Tuesday. Soriano was supposed to take the mound against the Seattle Mariners, but he will miss that start due to illness. George Klassen will be tasked with taking the ball during Tuesday's Catcus League contest. Soriano has been lit up this spring to the tune of seven earned runs across 3.2 innings of work. Soriano isn't expected to miss much time and should be back in the mix later in the week. The 27-year-old registered a 4.26 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and a 152/78 K/BB ratio across 31 starts with the Angels last season. Soriano is more of a streaming option because his lack of command makes him tough to trust over a full season.

Mar 1

Josh Lowe • RF • Angels

Josh Lowe Still Bothered by Oblique

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Lowe (oblique) has been shut down for a few days because of his oblique, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. It's an injury that has bothered Lowe for the past two years. Manager Kurt Suzuki said the team is "going to give him a few more days to be cautious." The 28-year-old missed time with the Tampa Bay Rays each of the last two seasons due to oblique injuries, so it's not a great sign that he's still bothered by it this spring. The former 13th overall pick in 2016 has never been able to reach his full potential in the big leagues due to injuries, but if he can stay healthy, he's an outfielder sleeper in deeper fantasy leagues because of his power/speed upside. Lowe will need to stay healthy and figure out a way to improve against left-handers, though. He has yet to play in more than 135 games in a season, and he hit .220/.283/.366 with a .650 OPS, 11 home runs, 40 RBI, 56 runs, and 18 steals in 108 games in Tampa last year.

Feb 28

Mike Trout • CF • Angels

Mike Trout Moving Around the Outfield This Spring

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout is playing in left field in the Cactus League game on Thursday against the Chicago Cubs, and the Angels are going to move him around in all three outfield spots this spring to "see what works best," according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. Trout wants to return to center field, where he feels most comfortable, but that might not be in the Angels' best interest if they want to keep the aging outfielder healthy for the entire season. The 34-year-old three-time MVP, 11-time All-Star, and nine-time Silver Slugger winner started as the team's right fielder in 2025 before eventually becoming the full-time designated hitter after suffering a bone bruise in his surgically repaired left knee in late April. Trout will eventually be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but he's past his prime now and has durability issues. At the right price, though, Trout still has plenty of fantasy value after hitting 26 homers last year. He's ranked as RotoBaller's No. 45 fantasy outfielder.

Feb 26

Ben Joyce • RP • Angels

Ben Joyce Throws Successful Bullpen Session on Friday

Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Ben Joyce (shoulder) threw a successful bullpen session on Friday. According to Jeff Fletcher, Joyce looked good and was able to mix in secondary pitches as well. The 25-year-old is currently on track to be ready by Opening Day. He's working his way back from a torn labrum that required surgery in May of last year. The Angels are hopeful that Joyce can be an impactful late-inning reliever for them this season. In 2024, Joyce registered a 2.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a 33/14 K/BB ratio across 31 games. The 25-year-old could be the closer of the future, assuming he's able to tap into his full potential.

Feb 20

Nolan Schanuel • 1B • Angels

Nolan Schanuel Improves Bat Speed, Hoping for More Power

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel improved his average bat speed by 2.3 mph from 2024 to 2025, which was the sixth-best jump in the majors, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. Schanuel said he spent the offseason working on the same type of drills while also working on his barrel control as he seeks more power and extra-base hits. The 24-year-old left-handed hitter has a .257 average and .348 on-base percentage in his first two full major-league seasons and has struck out only 13% of the time, but he's added just 25 home runs. Perhaps Schanuel will start hitting the ball over the fence more often in 2026 as he continues to search for more power, but until that happens, it's hard to get excited about him in shallow mixed fantasy leagues. Schanuel is most valuable in deeper leagues that count on-base percentage as corner-infield depth.

Feb 20

José Soriano • SP • Angels

Jose Soriano to Start Cactus League Opener on Saturday

Los Angeles Angels right-hander Jose Soriano will start the team's Cactus League opener in spring training on Saturday against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Tempe Diablo Stadium, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. Soriano is completely recovered after missing the final two weeks of last season with a right-forearm contusion. Not only will the 27-year-old kick off Cactus League action this year, but he could get the nod as the Halos' Opening Day starter over left-hander Yusei Kikuchi. In his third year in the majors with the Angels in 2025, Soriano went 10-11 with a career-high 4.26 ERA (3.73 FIP), 1.39 WHIP, and 152:78 K:BB in 169 innings over his 31 starts. His stuff is top-notch, and he generates plenty of ground balls, but Soriano holds only a 22.1% career strikeout rate, while his 10.6% walk rate will scare many away. RotoBaller has him ranked just inside the top 100 starting pitchers in fantasy.

Feb 18

Robert Stephenson • RP • Angels |

Ben Joyce • RP • Angels

Ben Joyce, Robert Stephenson Both Start Throwing Bullpens

Los Angeles Angels relief pitchers Ben Joyce (shoulder) and Robert Stephenson (elbow) each threw a bullpen session on Tuesday, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. Prior to Tuesday's session, neither pitcher had thrown off the mound this spring. Joyce is working his way back from a torn labrum, which required surgery in May 2025. During his last healthy season in 2024, he posted a 2.08 ERA with 8.57 K/9, 3.63 BB/9, and 0.26 HR/9. The right-hander is capable of hitting 102 mph with his fastball, offering the Angels an effective leverage arm out of the bullpen. Stephenson's injury luck has been even worse. He missed all of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery, and shortly after his return in May 2025, he was shut down again with a stretched nerve in his biceps. He returned for 10 outings in the fall before being placed back on the injured list with elbow inflammation. He logged just 10 innings last year, posting a 2.70 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9. These numbers fall a bit lower than his career averages, and it remains to be seen how much his effectiveness has changed amid all of his injury problems.

Feb 17

Grayson Rodriguez • SP • Angels

Grayson Rodriguez is Aiming to Make 30 Starts

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez is aiming to make 30 starts in 2026 despite missing all of last season due to injury. Rodriguez didn't pitch in 2025 after having bone spurs removed from his right elbow. The right-hander says that he has already noticed a significant difference. Having a healthy Rodriguez could be a huge boost to the Halos' rotation this season. The 26-year-old was acquired in a trade that sent outfielder Taylor Ward to the Baltimore Orioles earlier in the offseason. The former first-rounder has been a viable option when healthy, but keeping him on the mound has been the problem. In 2024, Rodriguez posted a 3.86 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and a 130/36 K/BB ratio across 20 starts with the O's. The potential is still there for Rodriguez to be a top-of-the-line starter, so hopefully he can stay healthy and prove it in 2026.

Feb 14

Hunter Strickland • RP • Angels

Hunter Strickland Throws a Bullpen on Wednesday

Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever Hunter Strickland (shoulder) threw a bullpen session at spring training on Wednesday, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. Strickland was shut down for the rest of the season in early July of last year due to a right-shoulder strain, but the veteran reliever appears to be healthy going into the 2026 campaign. Even though Kenley Jansen is no longer in town, the 37-year-old veteran is not a lock to win an Opening Day bullpen job with the Halos out of camp. Before his shoulder injury last year, Strickland held a 3.27 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, one save, 14 strikeouts, and 10 walks in 22 innings out of the bullpen. If Strickland pitches well this spring and begins the season with the Angels, he'll only be worth a look in deeper fantasy leagues that reward points for holds.

Feb 11

Grayson Rodriguez • SP • Angels

Grayson Rodriguez Must Prove his Health to Earn Rotation Spot

Los Angeles Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said that right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (elbow) will have to prove he's healthy to earn an Opening Day starting rotation spot, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. The same is true for right-hander Alek Manoah, while Suzuki named lefties Yusei Kikuchi and Reid Detmers, and right-hander Jose Soriano as locks for the rotation. Rodriguez was acquired by the Angels from the Baltimore Orioles back in November, but after missing all of last year with elbow and lat injuries, the Halos want to make sure he's fully healthy before committing to him as a starter. The 26-year-old former first-rounder was one of the top prospects in baseball in the O's system before he made his big-league debut in 2023, though, so he could bounce back nicely if he can stay on the mound. Rodriguez showed high-end potential in 2024, when he had a 3.86 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and a 26.5% strikeout rate.

Feb 10

Ben Joyce • RP • Angels

Ben Joyce Playing Catch, Uncertain for Opening Day

Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever Ben Joyce (shoulder) is playing catch at spring training, but manager Kurt Suzuki said it's too early to tell if Joyce will be ready for Opening Day, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. The Angels are taking it day by day with Joyce for now. The hard-throwing 25-year-old missed most of last season after having surgery to fix the labrum in his right shoulder. He appeared in only five games, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out one in 4 1/3 innings. There are plenty of question marks for the back end of the Angels' bullpen going into the 2026 season with Kenley Jansen no longer around. Right now, Robert Stephenson, Drew Pomeranz, and Kirby Yates are set to work in a closer committee, but Joyce will be involved as well, depending on his health.

Feb 10

Hunter Strickland • RP • Angels

Hunter Strickland Re-Signs With Angels on Minors Deal

Free-agent right-handed reliever Hunter Strickland (shoulder) re-signed a minor-league deal with the Los Angeles Angels on Monday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Strickland only appeared in 19 games for the Halos in 2025 and missed the entire second half with a right-shoulder strain. Before his injury, the 37-year-old veteran was decent with a 3.27 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, one save, 14 strikeouts, and 10 walks in 22 innings out of the bullpen. Going into his 12th MLB season, and third straight in Anaheim, Strickland won't really be on the fantasy radar as an aging reliever who will most likely occupy a middle-relief role. It's unclear if Strickland will be ready for the start of spring training. In the last two years with the Angels, Strickland has a weak 18.4% strikeout rate and 8.8% walk rate in his 95 1/3 innings pitched.

Feb 9

Zach Neto • SS • Angels

Red Sox Have Tried to Acquire Zach Neto

The Boston Red Sox have reportedly tried to trade for Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto, but the Angels have set a very high bar for him. The Red Sox were unable to re-sign third baseman Alex Bregman in free agency, but they have traded for first baseman Willson Contreras and third baseman Caleb Durbin to boost their infield depth this offseason. Neto would be a clear upgrade over the injury-prone and aging Trevor Story, but Boston would likely have to part with several high-end prospects to land him. As things currently stand, Durbin and Marcelo Mayer figure to compete for playing time at third base, with Story at the 6 and Kristian Campbell manning the keystone. Neto has emerged as one of the best young shortstops in the game after hitting a combined .253/.318/.458 with a .776 OPS, 49 home runs, 139 RBI, 152 runs scored, and 56 stolen bases in the last two seasons.

Feb 9

George Klassen • SP • Angels

George Klassen Will Attend Big-League Spring Training

Los Angeles Angels right-handed starting pitcher George Klassen will attend big-league spring training. The right-hander enters the 2026 campaign sitting as the team's No. 3-ranked prospect on MLB.com. Klassen was a sixth-round selection by the Phillies back in the 2023 MLB Draft and is now steps away from making the MLB Opening Day roster. In 2025, the Minnesota product spent most of his season at Double-A, where he logged 102 2/3 innings to the tune of a 5.33 ERA with a 1.48 WHIP. During this stint, he struck out 126 hitters while allowing 46 walks. However, over his last four outings at Double-A, he posted an elite 1.17 ERA, which earned him a one-game taste of Triple-A. If Klassen continues to perform well in camp, he could be in the mix to join the Angels early in the first half.

Feb 9

Jo Adell • CF • Angels

Can Jo Adell Repeat 2025 Power Breakout?

A former top prospect, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell finally had his long-awaited breakout season in 2025. Across 573 plate appearances, the 26-year-old posted a .236/.293/.485 slash line with 37 home runs, 98 RBI, 63 runs scored, and five stolen bases. Adell logged an elite 17.2% barrel rate, the best of his career by nearly six percentage points. Heading into 2026, Adell looks to have an everyday role in the middle of the Angels lineup. However, there are some warning signs in his profile. With a 5.8% walk rate and 26.4% strikeout rate, Adell's plate skills remain questionable and could lead to both a poor batting average and a drop in the batting order. Additionally, Adell has largely graded out as a well below-average defensive outfielder throughout his career, which could lead to a drop in playing time if he has any struggles with the bat. Still, Adell's power is real, and the Angels are not exactly swimming in outfield talent behind him. As a mid-round power bat, Adell could be a quality outfield option for fantasy managers once again in 2026.

Feb 7

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