TEMPE, Ariz. -- With the Angels set to depart Arizona after Friday’s final Cactus League game against the White Sox, manager Kurt Suzuki said the club still needs to decide on a closer, its starting second baseman and the back end of the rotation.
The Angels were dealt a blow this week when right-hander Robert Stephenson experienced a setback in his recovery from an elbow/nerve injury and will see Dr. Keith Meister this week for additional testing. There could be damage to his ulnar collateral ligament/flexor tendon, but he’s hopeful he’ll be able to pitch at some point this season. Stephenson was a top candidate to close for the Angels, but now they’ll have to pivot after the injury.
Here’s a look at three battles remaining with Opening Day looming on March 26 in Houston:
Closer
With Stephenson starting the season on the injured list, the Angels could decide to use a veteran like Kirby Yates, Jordan Romano or Drew Pomeranz as their closer or go with a committee until someone establishes themselves. Flamethrower Ben Joyce could also factor into that role once he returns, which is expected to be early in the season after undergoing shoulder surgery last May.
“It's still ongoing,” Suzuki said. “We still haven't decided if we're gonna name one or just use the three high-leverage guys and mix and match.”
Romano (133 career saves) and Yates (98) have extensive closing experience, but both struggled last year with the Phillies and Dodgers, respectively. Romano has had a nice spring with four scoreless outings and is working to incorporate a new splitter to keep lefties honest. But he said he’d like to see his fastball and slider velo tick up after they were down roughly 1.5 mph from last season in his outing against the Rockies on Sunday.
Yates has a 2.25 ERA with four strikeouts and a walk in four innings this spring, but in his outing on Sunday, he also saw his fastball average about 1 mph lower than his season average last year.
Pomeranz’s velocity has held steady compared to last year, when he had a 2.17 ERA in 49 2/3 innings with the Cubs. But he has just 10 career saves, and last year was his first season back in the Majors since 2021 due to a variety of left-arm injuries.
Second base
There was some added clarity when Christian Moore and Kyren Paris were both optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday, but the Angels still have to decide on a starter at second base. Non-roster invitee Adam Frazier is the favorite for that role because he hits left-handed and makes contact at a high clip, but Oswald Peraza has had an impressive spring, and Vaughn Grissom still remains in the mix. Peraza and Grissom are both out of Minor League options.
Suzuki also said he wouldn’t rule out just going based on matchups at second base and using a modified platoon with Frazier and Peraza/Grissom, who both hit right-handed. Veteran Chris Taylor is also an option and has an opt-out looming, while Jeimer Candelario got a start at second on Monday to see if he can handle the position.
“We had another conversation about it, and it was a conversation with no answers,” Suzuki said. “It's one of those things that might come down to the wire. One scenario we're talking about is that it could depend on who's pitching against us.”
Back end of the rotation
The Angels traded for right-hander Grayson Rodriguez and signed right-hander Alek Manoah to a one-year deal to join the rotation, but both have struggled this spring. Rodriguez has a 4.97 ERA with 10 walks in 12 2/3 innings, while Manoah has a 7.15 ERA with 10 walks in 11 1/3 innings. Both have Minor League options remaining and could be sent down to revamp their stuff after not pitching in the Majors last year due to injury. There’s also an outside chance Manoah goes to the bullpen as a long reliever.
Rodriguez still has a better chance to make the club than Manoah because his stuff has looked better, but others have pitched themselves into the conversation, such as right-handers Jack Kochanowicz, Ryan Johnson and George Klassen, and lefty Mitch Farris. Kochanowicz has a chance to join the rotation, but he went through a sophomore slump last year after showing promise as a rookie. Johnson is the club’s No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, while Klassen is ranked No. 5, and both have impressed with their elite stuff.
“We're still up in the air,” Suzuki said. “We have a few guys in the mix there and we’ll see how things play out. But we’d like to name them sooner or later and for their sake, too.”