Free Agent Relievers the Angels Should Pursue

By any metric the Angels bullpen was horrible in 2026. But the one that best summarizes the unit's futility is that Ben Joyce led the team in saves with five. And it took him until mid September to claim the lead. Perry Minasian was dreadful at building bullpens and this year was his worst work.

In ranking the team's biggest weaknesses it likely goes bullpen, offensive strikeouts, bad defense. With Ben Joyce spending more time on the injured list than active, it would be wise for the Angels to not depend on him as their closer. The team is in a tight spot needing to add both quality and quantity to the bullpen.

In previous pieces we looked at starting pitchers the Angels should target and some outfielders the team should pursue.

Today let's start with the quality arms for the bullpen then perhaps later look into some depth and middle relief options. Hopefully the Angels can snag a few of the latter via the waiver wire and/or Rule V draft.

Good bullpens have an anchor that provides a steadying presence and allows everybody else in front of him be used in match up situations. The Angels lost that when Kenley Jansen left for Detroit and it was felt throughout the season. Adding a proven closer to the back end of a likely very young bullpen could carry benefits both in the win column and in their development.

David Bednar: The Elite, High-Leverage Closer Worth a Massive Financial Investment

Prying him away from the Yankees where he is currently closing playoff games might not be easy, but if Kroenke wants to spend money he has plenty of it. Since mid May Bednar has been lights out. The powerful righty has finished 56 games for the pinstripes.

Bednar has one of the best whiff rates in baseball at 38.4% and when batters do manage to make contact, he is in the 89% percentile in ground ball rate. In short, the ball usually winds up in the catcher's mitt or an infielder's glove but it rarely flies over the wall.

At age 31 Bednar should have several good years ahead of him and could be a perfect anchor for a rebuilding club that hopes to win sooner rather than later.

Raisel Iglesias: The Steady Veteran and Logical Reunion Target