When the Los Angeles Angels traded Carlos Estevez before the trade deadline, concerns about the team’s bullpen for the remainder of the season were understandable. Losing a closer of Estevez’s caliber, along with Luis Garcia who was also traded, is challenging for any team, especially one like the Angels with depth issues.
Yet, sometimes, an interesting thing happens when a key player leaves. While bullpens often struggle as new roles are established after such departures, the Angels’ bullpen has surprisingly remained solid, thanks to a few young pitchers stepping up.
Angels bullpen appears to be in good hands despite trade deadline departures
Ron Washington faced a challenge in determining who would close games after Estevez was traded. Initially, he named Garcia as the closer, but when Garcia was also traded, Washington’s plan to give Ben Joyce a shot at the role came into play—though not immediately.
Ron Washington said that Luis Garcia is stepping into the closers role.
Ben Joyce, however, would get many of those reps if Luis Garcia is dealt before the deadline, Washington said.
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) July 28, 2024
After the trade deadline, it became apparent that Washington was still uncertain about how to manage high-leverage situations. While Joyce was a strong candidate, it seemed the Angels were still experimenting with bullpen roles. Joyce’s arm talent is undeniable, but he’s not necessarily someone you’d want to use in consecutive games frequently.
Despite the uncertainty, the Angels’ bullpen has performed well since the deadline, with a solid 3.79 ERA. Most of the struggles have come from Hunter Strickland and Hans Crouse, while Joyce, along with Roansy Contreras, Jose Marte, Matt Moore, and Jose Quijada, haven’t allowed an earned run in their combined 10 appearances.
Joyce has understandably attracted attention, not only because he was expected to step into a high-leverage role after Estevez’s departure but also due to his impressive pitching. However, the rest of the Angels’ bullpen deserves recognition as well.
While Joyce has the highest upside among Angels relievers and will see plenty of big moments, his reliance on throwing over 100 mph means he needs more recovery time between appearances. Fortunately, with multiple reliable arms available, the Angels are well-positioned to manage their bullpen effectively.
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