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Relief pitcher Robert Stephenson recently signed a three-year contract with the Angels. Does this addition move the needle for the Angels and what is his potential impact for fantasy baseball managers in 2024?
The Los Angeles Angels have been dealt their fair share of body blows in recent years, some of which have been self-inflicted. Mike Trout continues to be injury-prone, their sizeable investment in former Nationals superstar Anthony Rendon has yielded 200 fruitless games in four seasons, and their decision to hold onto now-Dodger Shohei Ohtani through the trade deadline (and spend assets to add) blew up in their face.
Nonetheless, the club went out and signed an in-demand relief pitcher in Robert Stephenson on the heels of a breakout season between the Pirates and Rays. Stephenson and the Angels have agreed to a hefty three-year, $33 million contract through the 2026 season. A 2027 club option becomes available if the right-hander misses 130 days with an elbow injury from 2024-26.
While adding the 30-year-old certainly improves their bullpen, does the signing really move the needle for a 73-win club forced to compete with the powerhouse Houston Astros, reigning World Series champion Texas Rangers, and a competitive Seattle Mariners club in the AL West? What does this move mean for prospective fantasy baseball managers? Let's answer both of these questions and see what this move means for everyone involved.
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Does Robert Stephenson Move the Needle for the Angels?
A team seemingly with holes all over the place, the Angels don't appear to be a whole lot better off with Stephenson in tow. Now, the Angels bullpen ranked 23rd with a 4.64 ERA and 22nd with a 12.8% K-BB% in the 2023 season, and adding an arm in Stephenson helps in both regards. However, adding a late-inning reliever to a team flooded with question marks across the board is akin to putting a band-aid on a bullet wound.
That said, there are some quality names left on the free-agent market such as two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell, third baseman Matt Chapman, and center fielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger, to name a few. It would be ignorant to assume the Angels are done adding. They also added a well-respected manager in Ron Washington this offseason. It's not as if they've done nothing, but the on-field product looks sketchy at best at the moment.
Far more interesting when it comes to Stephenson is his upcoming value to fantasy managers. The first thing to note is that Stephenson himself said the closer's role still belongs to Carlos Estevez, but he will take it if necessary. The current plan is for Stevenson to hold down eighth-inning duties for the time being.
However, it may not be long for the switch to be flipped. Stephenson enjoyed a torrid second half that included a 1.50 ERA and eye-popping 42.9% K-BB% across 24 frames with the Rays. He posted a 2.35 ERA and a 42.9% K% across 42 overall appearances following a move from the Pirates to the Rays a season ago.
On the flip side, Estevez posted a 3.90 ERA across 63 games last season but also scuffled to a 6.59 ERA in 27 1/3 second-half innings. Opponents hit .302 with an .848 OPS off of Estevez following the All-Star break.
Stephenson still makes plenty of sense in leagues that reward holds. Even still, a high-leverage, high-strikeout arm that could take over closing duties sooner than later certainly makes for a solid late-round look in fantasy baseball drafts this spring.
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