At a Glance
- Kirby Yates signs a one-year, $5 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels.
- The 38-year-old reliever departs the Los Angeles Dodgers after a 5.23 ERA 2025 season.
- Yates brings 98 career saves, two Tommy John surgeries, and a 2025 World Series ring.
- Why it matters: The Angels add a veteran with late-inning experience to a bullpen that lacks a clear closer.
The Los Angeles Dodgers let go of veteran right-hander Kirby Yates after a difficult 2025 campaign, and the Angels have signed him to a one-year contract worth $5 million.
Yates’ Road to the Angels
Yates began his career undrafted from Yavapai College, endured two Tommy John surgeries, and made his MLB debut at 27.
In 2019 with the Padres he posted a league-leading 41 saves and a 1.19 ERA, earning his first All-Star nod.
After bone-chip surgery and limited appearances, he returned with the Braves in 2023 and the Rangers in 2024, compiling a 1.17 ERA, 85 strikeouts, and 33 saves.
Dodgers Departure and 2025 Performance
Yates signed a one-year, $12 million deal to bolster the Dodgers’ bullpen but struggled, hitting the injured list three times and finishing the season with a 5.23 ERA.
He did not pitch in the postseason, but served as a mentor to younger relievers and finished with a 35.3 % whiff rate and 29.1 % strikeout rate.
Angels Bullpen Landscape
The Angels’ bullpen is in transition: Kenley Jansen is gone, Ben Joyce offers raw power, Robert Stephenson provides steadiness, and Jordan Romano brings pedigree.
Yates’ 98 career saves and experience in high-pressure situations make him a strong candidate to help fill the closer vacancy.
Key Takeaways
- Yates’ $5 million deal gives the Angels a seasoned reliever with a World Series ring.
- His 2025 performance was uneven, but his career stats show he can still deliver.
- The Angels now have a clear option to stabilize a bullpen that has yet to find a permanent closer.
