The Los Angeles Angels haven’t exactly made waves this offseason, but they have been active-particularly when it comes to reshaping their bullpen. While the front office hasn’t delivered the kind of headline-grabbing moves that would make the rest of the league take notice, they’ve quietly pieced together a relief corps that’s equal parts experienced and uncertain.
The Angels kicked off their offseason by adding a promising arm in Aneurys Zabala, a high-upside flamethrower who’s still trying to find consistent footing at the big league level. But the more noteworthy moves came with the signings of three veteran relievers: Drew Pomeranz, Jordan Romano, and Kirby Yates.
On paper, that trio brings All-Star pedigree and late-inning experience. In practice, though, there are real questions about how much they have left in the tank.
And then came the head-scratcher: the Angels traded away Brock Burke, arguably their most reliable in-house reliever, in a deal that brought back outfielder Josh Lowe. Now, Lowe is a solid addition with upside, and the move makes some sense from a roster-balancing perspective. But it also signals a level of confidence in the newly assembled bullpen that might be a bit premature.
Let’s break it down.
Pomeranz: A Strong 2025, But Red Flags Beneath the Surface
Drew Pomeranz had a bit of a renaissance last season with the Cubs, posting a shiny 2.17 ERA that turned heads. For a pitcher who was on the fringes of the league not long ago, that’s impressive. But dig a little deeper, and the picture gets murkier.
His FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) sat at 3.36, suggesting he benefited from some good fortune or strong defense behind him. And according to metrics from Baseball Savant, several key indicators were below league average-hard-hit rate, barrel rate, chase rate, whiff rate, and ground ball percentage all trended in the wrong direction. That’s not what you want to see from a guy you’re counting on to lock down leads in the late innings.
Romano: Searching for the 2023 Version of Himself
Jordan Romano doesn’t need much statistical unpacking to understand the risk here. His 8.23 ERA in 2025 speaks volumes.
After a strong run with the Blue Jays that peaked in 2023, Romano has struggled to find consistency. The Phillies took a flier on him last year, and now the Angels are doing the same.
At his best, Romano brings high-velocity stuff and closer-level experience. But that version of him hasn’t been seen in a while. The Angels are betting on a bounce-back, but it’s a long shot-and they know it.
Yates: Flashes of Dominance, But Inconsistent Results
Kirby Yates might be the most intriguing of the three. He’s not far removed from a solid 2024 season, and even in a rough 2025 campaign with the Dodgers, he showed flashes of his old self. His whiff rate and strikeout percentage remained elite, suggesting the swing-and-miss stuff is still there.
The problem? When hitters made contact, they did serious damage.
His ERA ballooned north of five, and he struggled to find rhythm in a limited role. There’s upside here, but also volatility.
He’s a high-risk, high-reward piece in a bullpen that’s already full of question marks.
The Burke Trade: A Calculated Gamble
Which brings us back to Brock Burke. Trading him away signals a belief that the bullpen, as currently constructed, can hold its own without him. That’s a bold assumption.
Burke was a steady presence last season-maybe not dominant, but reliable. He gave the Angels quality innings and flexibility, traits that are hard to replace. Swapping him out for a bat like Lowe might help the lineup, but it leaves the bullpen without its most dependable lefty.
Final Thoughts
This is the kind of bullpen rebuild that could go either way. On one hand, the Angels have added veteran arms with proven ceilings-guys who’ve been elite at various points in their careers. On the other, they’re rolling the dice on players coming off recent struggles, hoping that a change of scenery and a fresh start in Anaheim can spark a resurgence.
If Pomeranz can stave off regression, if Romano can rediscover his 2023 form, and if Yates can turn his strikeout stuff into consistent results, this group could surprise. But that’s a lot of “ifs” for a team that just traded away its most consistent reliever.
The Angels are betting on upside. Whether that gamble pays off will go a long way in determining how competitive they’ll be in 2026.