ANAHEIM -- The Angels made two veteran additions to their bullpen, agreeing to terms with left-hander Drew Pomeranz and righty Jordan Romano on one-year deals on Tuesday. Pomeranz will earn $4 million, while Romano will earn $2 million.
They represent the first two relievers signed by the Angels this offseason, although right-hander Alek Manoah was signed to one-year deal worth $1.95 million and could be used as a reliever if he doesn’t make the rotation out of Spring Training. The Angels also saw closer Kenley Jansen, who went 29-for-30 in save chances with a 2.59 ERA with the club last season, sign with the Tigers on Saturday.
Romano has closing experience with 113 career saves, but general manager Perry Minasian said the Angels still haven’t filled that role yet and it could be something that’s determined in Spring Training.
“There's no set closer right now,” Minasian said. “We're still looking at bullpen. It's not an area where we're done. We're still going to look to add to that group. In our eyes, it's just get as many good arms as we can and see what happens.”
Pomeranz, 37, is coming off a strong year with the Cubs, posting a 2.17 ERA with 57 strikeouts and 15 walks in 49 2/3 innings. It was his first year in the Majors since 2021 after a spate of injuries. Pomeranz also is rejoining the organization after signing a Minor League deal with the club in ’24 before being released at the end of Spring Training.
Pomeranz gives the Angels a much-needed lefty reliever, and he has a career 3.82 ERA with 940 strikeouts in 908 innings during parts of 12 seasons with the Red Sox, Padres, Rockies, Athletics, Cubs, Brewers and Giants. He was a National League All-Star with San Diego in 2016, and he won a World Series ring with Boston in ’18.
“It’s a combination of makeup and performance for Drew,” Minasian said. “The year Drew had and being healthy the full year was important.”
Romano is coming off a tough season with the Phillies, posting an 8.23 ERA with 47 strikeouts, 17 walks and 10 homers allowed in 42 2/3 innings. He also struggled in 2024, with a 6.59 ERA in 13 2/3 frames with the Blue Jays while missing most of the season with right elbow inflammation.
But the 32-year-old had a 2.67 ERA with 272 strikeouts in 216 innings with Toronto from 2019-23, and he was an American League All-Star in both '22 and '23, so he represents a bounceback candidate.
“We’ve seen him at the back end pitch very well and in All-Star Games,” Minasian said. “He’s one of the best humans you'll ever meet. And there's some things we feel like we can do delivery-wise. There's some things we feel like we can do with the slider. The biggest thing is the stuff is still good. He missed bats. I know the ERA was high but the underlying numbers were pretty good.”
Without a set closer, Minasian also said that Ben Joyce and Robert Stephenson are capable of closing if the Angels don't acquire a veteran closer this offseason. Joyce is coming off right shoulder surgery and could miss the start of the season, while Stephenson dealt with right elbow inflammation late in the year but is on track to be ready for Spring Training.
Other options in the bullpen include lefty Brock Burke and right-handers Ryan Zeferjahn, Chase Silseth, José Fermin, Sam Bachman and Cody Laweryson, who was claimed off waivers from the Twins earlier this offseason.
But as Minasian said, they aren’t done adding to the bullpen and could still find a traditional closer via free agency or trade. But it’s just one of many needs for the Angels, who are also looking for another starter, a third baseman and a center fielder.
They’ve also embraced a strategy of acquiring players with an element of risk this offseason. Right-handers Grayson Rodriguez and Manoah didn’t play in the Majors in ’25 and neither did utility man Vaughn Grissom, who was acquired in a trade with the Red Sox last week.
“We still have the opportunity to do a lot of things,” Minasian said. “It's kind of what makes sense. There's definitely opportunity. There's a number of very good players out on the market, whether it be trade or free agency. And we're active in a lot of areas, and we'll kind of see how it all plays out.”