ANAHEIM, Calif. — Sixteen months after signing a $33 million, three-year contract with the
The 33-year-old right-hander went 3-1 with a 2.35 ERA in 42 games for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2023, striking out 60 batters and walking eight in 38⅓ innings.
He should bolster an Angels bullpen that entered Wednesday with a major league-worst 6.31 ERA and lost hard-throwing setup man Ben Joyce to season-ending shoulder surgery in late April.
Stephenson had a 3.60 ERA over five innings in five minor league rehabilitation appearances. He mixes a 97 mph fastball with a sharp 85 mph slider and an 89 mph splitter.
Los Angeles manager Ron Washington said he hopes to ease Stephenson back into a high-leverage role, but he wouldn’t rule out the possibility of immediately using Stephenson to hold an eighth-inning lead for closer Kenley Jansen.
“I want to give him a chance to get settled in,” Washington said, “but if the opportunity presents itself (in a high-leverage spot) and he’s the best we have at the time, it will happen.”
