Angels Reunite With Kirby Yates on 1-Year Deal
December 30, 2025 - Written by Kian Behravan
Source: RHP Kirby Yates and the #Angels are in agreement on a 1-year deal, pending physical. pic.twitter.com/kloQfcwpGU
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) December 30, 2025
The Angels and pitcher Kirby Yates agree on a one-year deal worth $5M, pending a physical. This will be the second time Yates is on the Angels, as he pitched one game for the team back in 2017, where he gave up two home runs in one inning of work, before going to San Diego, where his career took off.
Yates is a two-time All-Star and has established himself as a top reliever in baseball. However, he pitched to the tune of a 5.23 ERA with the Dodgers in 2025. Hitters are making harder contact, as they posted a 13% barrel rate and a 42.6% hard-hit rate. His fastball has become more erratic as opposed to 2024, as he’s left it in the zone many times, resulting in more home runs. He does seem to have more control of his splitter, but posted a -7 run value with it, in comparison to a +8 in 2024.
Yates is entering his age-39 season, and it seems the aging curve was sharp for him. After posting a 1.17 ERA in 2024, people would expect a good year in 2025. However, that was not the case. Yates isn’t too far gone; he’s proven time and time again that he can still hang around and that he can bounce back from strife, just like he did in 2023. Pitching coach Mike Maddux worked with Yates in Texas for the 2024 season. It’s not an impossible task to bring him back to that same form, and he’ll be helping the rest of the staff, too. Not to mention, Yates also brings leadership to a young bullpen with his experience, which is exactly what the team needs after letting go of Kenley Jansen. Overall, this is another low-risk, high-potential signing that puts the Angels one step closer to being contenders in 2026.
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