The Angels added a couple of veterans to their bullpen mix on Tuesday, signing left-hander Drew Pomeranz and right-hander Jordan Romano.
Pomeranz, who will make $4 million in 2026, is coming off a season in which he posted a 2.17 ERA in 57 games with the Chicago Cubs.
Romano, who will make $2 million, represents more of a gamble. He was an All-Star reliever in 2022 and 2023, but over the past two seasons he’s posted a 7.83 ERA.
It continues a trend this winter for the Angels. They have taken low-risk fliers on players who have upside. None of their other three additions this winter – pitchers Grayson Rodriguez and Alek Manoah and infielder Vaughn Grissom – even appeared in the majors in 2025.
The total outlay for the five players is less than $10 million, with Pomeranz getting the biggest deal.
Pomeranz, 37, was a reclamation project a year ago. Injuries prevented him from pitching in the majors from 2022 to 2024. The Seattle Mariners had Pomeranz on a minor-league deal last spring, and they traded him to the Cubs in late April.
Pomeranz struck out 57 and walked 15 in 49⅔ innings with the Cubs, holding opponents to a .210 batting average. Lefties hit .176 against him.
Romano, 32, had a 2.67 ERA through his first five major league seasons, including a 2.49 mark over his back-to-back All-Star seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays.
In 2024, Romano had elbow surgery that cost him most of the season. He pitched just 13⅔ innings with the Blue Jays. The Philadelphia Phillies nonetheless took a chance on him last season, signing him to an $8.5 million, one-year deal.
Romano pitched in 49 games with the Phillies last season, posting an 8.23 ERA.
Romano has a career 3.73 ERA.
It’s unclear exactly how the two pitchers will fit into the Angels’ bullpen, which is full of question marks. Their top two relievers are right-handers Robert Stephenson and Ben Joyce, but both are coming off injuries that cost them almost the entire 2025 season.
Right-handed relief pitcher Jordan Romano and the Angels have reportedly agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract for the 2026 season. Romano will hope to recapture the form that landed him on two All-Star teams. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Related Articles
Former Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs was an opioid addict for years before his death, psychiatrist testifies
Could the Angels still go big for one player in free agency?
Angels acquire 2B Vaughn Grissom from Red Sox
Angels still want to add starting pitching
Exact cause of Angels pitcher’s death a key issue for jurors in Tyler Skaggs wrongful death trial

Recent Comments