Los Angeles Angels reliever Robert Stephenson will miss the remainder of the season with elbow surgery, per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com.
Manager Kurt Suzuki broke the news, informing Bollinger. The procedure will address ligament and flexor repair, delivering a significant blow to the Angels’ bullpen.
Robert Stephenson Provided Key Upside to the Angels Bullpen
Stephenson, 33, started the season off on the 60-day IL. Since joining the Angels ahead of 2024, Stephenson hasn’t been able to avoid injuries. Just a few weeks ago, it looked like he was on track to return this year. Unfortunately, he ended up suffering a setback that sent him under the knife for the second time in three years.
He missed all of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery. His comeback in 2025 only saw him throw 10 innings. He will now miss the entirety of 2026 as well. When Stephenson was brought in, Los Angeles had high hopes. He was inked for a backend role for years to come after his dominance in Tampa Bay.
In his last full season, Stephenson was nothing short of elite. In 52.1 innings between the Rays and Pirates, he posted a 3.10 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. The former first-round pick looked primed to take on a larger late-inning role. It’s clear as day why the Angels took a risk on him. However, it’s now safe to say that the deal didn’t deliver as expected.
Stephenson’s pitch-mix consists of high-velocity, a devastating cutter, and the occasional split-finger. He kept hitters off the barrel at an elite clip in 2025 while racking up plenty of Ks. The worst thing about this blow is that when he was healthy, Stephenson was everything the Angels could’ve hoped for.
The contract that nets him $33 million over 3 years is just the newest example of bad deals dished out by LA. This contract could turn into a costly setback. The Angels will now have a late-inning role to fill for the foreseeable future.
Stephenson’s deal does have a conditional option for 2027, activated based on time spent on the IL. The conditions had already been met after he missed all of 2024. The Angels do have the option to retain his services for $2.5 million next season. The chances of that happening look slim due to all his injury drama over the past few years.
The Angels Bullpen Depth will Play a Major Role in 2026
Thankfully, the Angels spent their entire offseason bolstering the bullpen. The Halos brought in arms like Jordan Romano, Kirby Yates, Drew Pomeranz, and Brent Suter. Although Stephenson’s upside was rather unique, LA has the experience and depth to address his absence.
So far, Jordan Romano has been closing games. In his first 5 innings, the former All-Star sports a 0.00 ERA and 4 saves. That should calm the nerves of the Angels’ fandom.
Despite the big blow, the Angels look primed to absorb and adapt. This is due to all of their offseason acquisitions that bolster the bullpen. Experience and depth come in handy when volatility comes calling. Los Angeles will no doubt miss Stephenson’s prowess in the latter innings, but they have what it takes to make up for his loss.
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