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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.
The Dodgers placed Yates on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a hamstring injury, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
Yates hasn't pitched since Saturday due to his hamstring, and his trip to the injured list will keep him sidelined through the NL Wild Card Series, as well as the first few games of the NLDS if Los Angeles advances. The 38-year-old will finish the regular season with a 5.23 ERA through 41.1 innings -- his worst mark while pitching at least 40 frames since 2016. Roki Sasaki (shoulder) was activated off the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move.
The Dodgers activated Yates (back) from the 15-day injured list Saturday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
As expected, Yates rejoins the active roster Saturday after a three-week stint on the injured list with lower-back pain. The 38-year-old has a 4.31 ERA in 31.1 innings this season, and he should work in a set-up role for closer Tanner Scott. The Dodgers placed Blake Snell on the paternity list in a corresponding move.
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