The Los Angeles Angels made their biggest splash this offseason when they signed free agent reliever Robert Stephenson to a three-year, $33 million deal. For a team that many have considered "cheap" as of late, Stephenson was the main addition to the Angels' bullpen.
However, it looks like Stephenson won't be ready for the start of the season. Stephenson has dealt with shoulder soreness, which has prevented him from appearing in a game since spring training began.
Stephenson described the injury as "frustrating."
“It would feel good for a couple days and then I’d jump back on the mound and we’d kind of go back a little bit. Every time I felt I was making progress, we’d go backwards a little bit ... Unfortunately it’s still more of the same. It’s frustrating. It’s just been kind of nagging for a lot longer than anybody wanted for the majority of the spring.”
— Robert Stephenson, via Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register.
Most likely, Stephenson won't be ready to pitch by the Angels' first game of the season, against the Baltimore Orioles on March 28. In that case, expect Stephenson to begin the season on the 15-day injured list.
This would, of course, be a bummer for the Angels. Their bullpen lacked depth last year, prompting the big free agent splurge on Stephenson.
After joining the Tampa Bay Rays midway through last season, Stephenson posted a 2.35 ERA in 42 appearances. The right-hander's injury is not considered serious, so he should make his Angels debut at some point soon.
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