The Los Angeles Angels and veteran reliever Kirby Yates have reached an agreement on a one-year contract. This was confirmed by a source this Tuesday. Yates, 38, struggled with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, posting a 5.23 ERA in 50 appearances and was not included on any of the team’s postseason rosters. In the Angels, Yates will reunite with renowned pitching coach Mike Maddux, with whom he had a dominant season with the Texas Rangers in 2024. Yates’ deal, which is pending a physical, is the third one-year contract the Angels have given to a veteran reliever this offseason, following Jordan Romano and Drew Pomeranz. In 11 years with seven teams in the Major Leagues, Yates recorded an ERA of 3.36 with 623 strikeouts and 181 walks in 452 2/3 innings pitched in 472 appearances.
Yates’ best season was with the San Diego Padres in 2019, when he led the majors with 41 saves. But he revitalized his career in Texas in 2024, recording an ERA of 1.17 and a WHIP of 0.83, while striking out 12.4 batters per nine innings and earning his second All-Star selection.
