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Angels' Kirby Yates: May be headed for rehab stint
Rotowire
Yates (knee) threw 26 pitches to hitters Tuesday and could next begin a minor-league rehab stint, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Yates said his body "felt good" during the session but acknowledged that his legs aren't quite up to speed yet. "The hard part is, I didn't get a chance to do anything with my legs for 12-to-13 days. So we're trying to play catch-up with that. The legs aren't as fresh as I'd probably like them to be. But, overall, I think it was good," Yates said after throwing. Manager Kurt Suzuki echoed that sentiment, saying, "I thought he looked fine. Obviously, first time in a while throwing to hitters, so it's going to take time. Build his stamina, his legs back up, get his legs under him again... But hopefully we'll see him sooner than later." Yates said he's hoping his next step will be a rehab assignment with a minor-league squad but stated that he's going to talk that over with coaches and trainers Wednesday.
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Angels' Kirby Yates: Facing hitters Tuesday
Rotowire
Yates (knee) is scheduled to face hitters Tuesday as he works through mechanical adjustments ahead of his return, Doug Padilla of The Orange County Register reports.
"I think it's more of a feeling for me, knowing how the ball is supposed to come out of my hand," Yates said. "I don't think we're a crazy way away (from a return), or anything like that. It's just how quickly you can get to where you're comfortable going back out there and getting big outs for your team." It sounds like Yates and the Angels will have a better idea of how close he is after Tuesday's session. In Yates' absence, Jordan Romano has excelled as the closer, while Chase Silseth has been strong in a setup role for the Angels.
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Angels' Kirby Yates: Throws short bullpen session
Rotowire
Yates (knee) threw an abbreviated bullpen session Wednesday, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.
Yates said afterward that his knee felt healthy but that he still needs to sharpen his stuff before he's ready to pitch in a game. Sidelined by left knee inflammation, Yates is eligible for activation from the 15-day injured list April 6. It's unclear whether he'll be back on that date, but if he isn't it shouldn't be long after. Jordan Romano has seized the Angels' closer job for the time being, but Yates could work his way back into that mix.
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Angels' Kirby Yates: Playing catch
Rotowire
Yates has been playing catch and his injured left knee is improving, per MLB.com.
Yates landed on the IL on March 24 due to left knee inflammation. The Angels are planning to take a cautious approach with his return, so the fact that he's been able to do some throwing -- even just playing catch -- is a positive sign. Yates' next step will likely be a bullpen session. Jordan Romano is the lead candidate for saves for the time being, and whether Yates enters the ninth-inning mix upon his return could depend on the performance of the former Blue Jays closer.
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Angels' Kirby Yates: Lands on injured list
Rotowire
The Angels placed Yates on the 15-day injured list Tuesday due to left knee inflammation.
With Yates on the IL until at least April 6, the Angels are looking at a potential closing tandem of righty Jordan Romano and lefty Drew Pomeranz. Romano has put together a much better spring with a 1.50 ERA compared to Pomeranz's 9.64 mark. Even once he's back to full health, Yates won't be guaranteed the closer's role, though he should at least be a factor in the late innings for the Angels.
Ben Joyce (shoulder) is expected to begin the season on the injured list and Robert Stephenson (shoulder) recently suffered a setback, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange-County Register reports, which positions Yates to potentially begin the season as the favorite for saves in Anaheim.
Yates signed with the Halos on a one-year contract in December, with GM Perry Minasian indicating when the deal was announced that the veteran will need to earn closing opportunities. The 38-year-old has given up one earned run with three strikeouts and a walk over three innings during spring training, but he struggled to a 5.23 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 50 appearances for the Dodgers last year. The Angels also added Drew Pomeranz and Jordan Romano to the bullpen mix this winter, but Yates should be at the head of the pack, at least until Joyce and/or Stephenson are available.
Angels' Kirby Yates: Must earn closer opportunities
Rotowire
Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Wednesday during a conference call announcing the signing of Yates that the reliever will have to earn closing opportunities, Taylor Blake Ward of The Sporting Tribune reports.
Minasian did point out multiple times that Yates' closer experience as well as a past relationship with pitching coach Mike Maddux were important factors in the Angels giving the veteran hurler a one-year, $5 million contract. The Angels also added former closer Jordan Romano this offseason and have Ben Joyce (shoulder) and Robert Stephenson (elbow) coming back from injury. All four relievers are candidates for saves, and Minasian noted that the decision as to who will close games will be up to manager Kurt Suzuki.
Angels' Kirby Yates: Inks one-year deal with Angels
Rotowire
The Angels signed Yates to a one-year contract Tuesday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.
Yates made 50 regular-season appearances for the Dodgers in 2025, posting an ugly 5.23 ERA but also a more promising 52:17 K:BB over 41.1 innings. He will turn 39 in March, but Yates still has plenty of bat-missing ability and could be in the mix to close games as part of an unsettled Angels bullpen.
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