Former Dodgers Pitcher from 2025 World Series Joins the Angels
Los Angeles Dodgers Veteran Kirby Yates Signs with Angels
In a significant move, veteran right-handed reliever Kirby Yates has signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels, marking a new chapter in his fluctuating baseball career. This transition follows the Dodgers’ recent decision to part ways with another key member of their 2025 World Series championship team.
Yates, who is 38 years old, joins the Angels’ bullpen alongside Jordan Romano and Drew Pomeranz as part of a strategic approach to boost the team’s pitching depth. The Angels’ front office aims to capitalize on Yates’ potential and past success, hoping to rediscover the skills that once made him a formidable presence on the mound.
Last season was challenging for Yates with the Dodgers. After signing a one-year, $12 million deal, he encountered multiple setbacks, including trips to the injured list, and ultimately did not play in the playoffs. Despite finishing the season with a 5.23 ERA, Yates found a measure of purpose by mentoring younger pitchers in the Dodgers’ bullpen.
However, there were still glimpses of Yates’ former prowess, demonstrated by a 35.3% whiff rate and a 29.1% strikeout rate. He also earned a World Series ring and made headlines with a memorable tattoo commemorating the achievement.
Yates’ journey through baseball has been anything but conventional. Undrafted out of Yavapai College and having undergone two Tommy John surgeries, he faced significant obstacles—including years of bouncing between teams—before breaking out as one of baseball’s top closers. In 2019, he led MLB with 41 saves and posted a remarkable 1.19 ERA, earning his first All-Star selection.
After a series of injuries and limited appearances over the subsequent years, Yates made a comeback with the Braves in 2023, followed by a standout performance with the Rangers in 2024, where he once again earned an All-Star nod and achieved a 1.17 ERA with 33 saves.
Currently, the Angels’ bullpen is in transition following the departure of Kenley Jansen and lacks a definitive closer. While Ben Joyce brings raw talent and Robert Stephenson offers stability, Yates arrives with 98 career saves and a wealth of experience in high-pressure situations. If he can address his tendency to give up home runs—nine allowed in just over 41 innings last season—there is a clear opportunity for Yates to seize the closer role.
The Dodgers, with this departure, bid farewell to a player whose career did not fully meet its potential but who nonetheless played a vital role in their back-to-back championship victories.
