As the free-agent reliever market starts to heat up, the Angels find themselves in a familiar spot - needing to patch together a bullpen while their top priority, re-signing Kenley Jansen, remains unresolved. With several high-profile arms already off the board, the Angels will need to dig into the bargain bin to round out their relief corps. Fortunately, there are still a few intriguing names out there - veterans with upside, arms looking for bounce-back seasons, and pitchers who’ve shown flashes of being more than just filler.
Here are four low-cost relievers who could help stabilize the Angels' bullpen in 2026.
Michael Kopech: A former phenom looking for a second act
Once hailed as the top pitching prospect in baseball, Michael Kopech’s path hasn’t been the smooth ascent many expected. Between injuries and role changes in Chicago, he never quite found his footing with the White Sox. But a move to the Dodgers' bullpen helped him rediscover some of his electric stuff - and that’s what makes him an intriguing option for the Angels.
Kopech still brings elite velocity, the kind that can overpower hitters late in games. While he may not carry the same name recognition he once did, the tools are still there.
If the Angels do manage to bring back Jansen, Kopech could be a valuable bridge in the seventh or eighth innings. And if Jansen signs elsewhere?
Kopech has the kind of raw stuff that, with the right coaching and usage, could make him a dark horse candidate to handle the ninth.
Hunter Strickland: Veteran stability in the middle innings
Hunter Strickland gave the Angels some quality innings before hitting the IL last season, posting a 3.27 ERA across 19 appearances. He’s not going to light up the radar gun or rack up strikeouts by the dozen, but what he does bring is experience and the ability to keep games under control in the middle frames.
At 37, Strickland isn’t a long-term solution - but he doesn’t need to be. What the Angels could use is a reliable veteran who knows how to get the ball from the starter to the late-inning arms without letting things unravel.
If the price is right, bringing him back makes a lot of sense. He’s one of the few internal free agents who can still offer value in a defined role.
Jordan Romano: A bounce-back candidate with closer experience
Jordan Romano had a rough 2025 - there’s no sugarcoating an 8.23 ERA over 42.2 innings. But before that, he was one of the more consistent relievers in the game, with a career ERA of 2.90 heading into last season. That kind of track record doesn’t just disappear overnight.
Romano is exactly the kind of pitcher teams take a flier on in hopes of catching lightning in a bottle. He’s got experience closing games, and if he can rediscover even a portion of his previous form, he could be a steal on a low-cost deal. For a bullpen in need of depth and upside, Romano is a gamble worth taking.
Sean Reynolds: A high-upside arm searching for consistency
Sean Reynolds’ 2025 numbers - a 5.33 ERA in 19 games with the Padres - don’t exactly jump off the page. But rewind to 2024, and he was one of the more intriguing young relievers in the league, posting a 0.82 ERA with 21 strikeouts in just 11 innings during his initial call-up.
That kind of swing in performance is what makes Reynolds a classic high-risk, high-reward addition. If he can tap back into the form he showed in 2024 or even find a middle ground between his two seasons, he could become a valuable piece in a bullpen that needs more swing-and-miss potential. For a team like the Angels, who are likely to spread their spending across multiple needs, Reynolds is the kind of upside play that could quietly pay off.
Final thoughts
With the top-tier relievers already off the market, the Angels will need to get creative to fill out their bullpen. That doesn’t mean settling for mediocrity - it means identifying arms with upside, experience, or something to prove. Whether it’s a former top prospect like Kopech, a steady veteran like Strickland, or bounce-back candidates like Romano and Reynolds, there’s still value to be found.
The bullpen may not be where the Angels make their biggest splash this offseason, but it’s still a critical area that needs attention. And if they can strike gold on even one of these bargain arms, it could go a long way toward stabilizing the late innings in 2026.