2025-26 MLB Offseason Recap: Los Angeles Angels

The Angels missed out on the playoffs again in 2025, marking another year in which the team extended the longest active playoff drought in the Majors. There will be a lot of new faces this season, particularly on the pitching side. Grayson Rodriguez and Alek Manoah were among some of the notable additions for the Angels this past winter.

Additions

• OF Josh Lowe
• SP Alek Manoah
• RP Drew Pomeranz
• SP Grayson Rodriguez
• RP Jordan Romano
• RP Jayvien Sandridge
• RP Brent Suter
• RP Kirby Yates

Pitching was a major focus of the Angels this past winter. Given what the Angels received from their pitching in 2025, that’s not a shock.

Los Angeles brought in several well-known veteran relievers, including former Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano and ex-Dodger Kirby Yates. Those two are both former All-Stars who had very tough seasons in 2025. Both Romano (2.1) and Yates (2.0) ranked among the bottom 20 of the league last season in HR/9 among relievers (min. 30 appearances).

Drew Pomeranz, meanwhile, came over via free agency after a fantastic comeback season with the Cubs in 2025. Pomeranz’s fastball/curveball combo continued to stymie hitters, particularly left-handers.

Hard-throwing reliever Jayvien Sandridge and funky left-hander Brent Suter were also among the other reliever additions for the Angels this winter.

However, arguably the two most notable additions were Grayson Rodriguez and Josh Lowe.

We’ll start with Rodrigez, the young right-hander who missed all of last season thanks to numerous injuries. His 2025 officially concluded after debridement surgery in the summer. But when he was healthy in 2024, Rodriguez had all the makings of a fantastic, top-of-the-rotation arm.

A mid-90s fastball, plus-plus separation off it with the changeup, and two breaking balls. That combo worked very well, particularly when it came to keeping hitters off the fastball. And with years of control left, Rodriguez could be a hit if he can stay healthy.

He wasn’t the only addition for the rotation, as the Angels picked up former All-Star Alek Manoah via free agency. Manoah dealt with his fair share of injuries and velocity dips, and he’ll look to regain form with the Angels. In his first spring outing, Manoah topped out at 94 MPH but had a lot of 92-93 in there, as well.

The other big pickup was Josh Lowe, acquired in a three-way trade with the Rays and Reds.

Lowe brings power and speed to the Angels’ lineup, as well as a left-handed bat — something Los Angeles didn’t have much of before the move. However, Lowe doesn’t walk a lot and chases often.

Losses

• SP Tyler Anderson
• RP Luis Garcia
• SP Kyle Hendricks
• RP Kenley Jensen
• INF Luis Rengifo
• OF Taylor Ward

The addition of Grayson Rodriguez came at a steep cost. Taylor Ward, a key cog of the Angels’ lineup for years, was flipped to Baltimore for Rodriguez.

Ward only had one year of team control left, so the fact that the Angels were able to acquire an asset like Rodriguez should be seen as a positive. However, Ward was one of the best home run-hitting outfielders over the past three years. That production won’t be easy to replace.

Moving back to the pitching staff, the Angels will have a new closer for 2026. Kenley Jansen, the Angels’ top late-inning option last season, signed with the Detroit Tigers in the winter.

And for the rotation, Kyle Hendricks retired, while Tyler Anderson hit the free agent market once more after the 2025 season. Anderson gave up 28 home runs over 136 innings last season as a Los Angeles Angel.

Overview

The Angels’ rotation has been a sore spot for years.

Jose Soriano performed well in 2025, and despite a poor early start to the spring from a numbers perspective, is still pumping premium velocity. Soriano threw multiple triple-digit fastballs in his first two starts. Between him, Yusei Kikuchi, Grayson Rodriguez, and the young pitchers who will fill out the rest of the rotation, there is potential here.

However, a healthy season from the likes of Yoan Moncada, Zach Neto, and Mike Trout will be a key to success in 2026.