In 2023, the Los Angeles Angels were mediocre once again.
They couldn’t even sniff the playoffs even though they had Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, and other stars.
But the campaign was, at least, good for Carlos Estevez.
The reliever was able to establish himself as the go-to ninth-inning option.
His ERA wasn’t special at 3.90, but he did save 31 games, a career high for him.
Now, the Angels are announcing the signing of Robert Stephenson to a three-year, $33 million contract.
Stephenson had been a promising, yet underachieving reliever for his entire career from 2016 to 2022.
His 2023 started off the same way, with a 5.14 ERA in 14 innings with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Tampa Bay Rays acquired him and “fixed” him: he pitched to a 2.35 ERA in 38.1 frames with them, handing out just eight walks and striking out a whopping 60 hitters.
His stint with the Rays earned him a multi-year contract and a life-changing payday.
What will be his role in LA?
He answered that himself.
“The plan is for Robert Stephenson to be a late-inning reliever. But he’s not expecting closer duties. He said it’s Carlos Estévez’s job (they were teammates in Colorado). But he said he’s willing to take on any role, if it becomes necessary,” Angels insider Sam Blum tweeted.
The plan is for Robert Stephenson to be a late-inning reliever. But he’s not expecting closer duties.
He said it’s Carlos Estévez’s jobs (they were teammates in Colorado). But he said he’s willing to take on any role, if it becomes necessary.
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) January 23, 2024
Often, in MLB, the best reliever is not the designated closer: it’s the one you can call when there is a fire you need to put out.
Stephenson is better than Estevez, so that could be his role.
To be more accurate, however, let’s call him a setup man.
He said he could fulfill any role, though, and we are sure that’s the case with that obscene strikeout rate.
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