The Los Angeles Angels made their first significant offseason signing last week, agreeing to a three-year, $33 million deal with top relief pitcher Robert Stephenson. The deal includes a fourth-year option that could be trigged if Stephenson misses a significant amount of time due to injury.
Stephenson is coming off an incredible 2023 season and should be a key piece of the Angels' bullpen for the next few seasons.
This is one of the reasons former general manager and current MLB Network analyst Steve Phillips believes the Halos got themselves a steal in Stephenson.
“I think he’s legit. I believe that he got fixed in Tampa,” Phillips said. “He had the highest whiff rate on any single pitch for the second half of the season. I think it’s legitimate. I’m surprised playoff contenders didn’t go there… I believe this guy’s putaway pitch is worthy of even being a ninth inning pitcher right now. So I think the Angels got a really good guy.”
(per Steve Phillips via MLB Network)
Phillips may be on to something. From June 2023 to the end of the season, Stephenson was on another level. He ranked first in strikeout percentage (44.7%), strikeout-minus-walk percentage (40.7%), WHIP (0.65), xFIP (1.82), swinging strike percentage (31.6%) and chase rate (49.6%).
None of this guarantees Stephenson's superlative performance with the Rays will translate into 2024, but it offers a ton of promise — especially with his new pitch.
There are enough questions about Stephenson's elbow health to allow the Angels to negotiate a fourth-year option into his contract. He began the season on the injured list last year with elbow soreness, and it's uncertain if he'll be able to hold up for the next three years.
However, all signs point to Stephenson being a great signing for the Halos when healthy, and shoring up a bullpen that needed the help after an abysmal 2023 season.
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