The Angels declined Robert Stephenson’s $2.5 million option on Friday, making the relief pitcher a free agent after three injury-marred seasons.
The Angels signed Stephenson to a three-year, $33 million deal before the 2024 season, but he pitched only 10 innings in that span, having two elbow surgeries. A clause in his original contract triggered the option year when he had his first Tommy John surgery, in 2024. When he had Tommy John surgery in April, it knocked him out until sometime in the middle of 2027, at the earliest, making it a relatively obvious decision for the Angels to decline the option.
The Angels also took right-hander Jack Kochanowicz off the 60-day injured list and added him back to the 40-man roster, which is standard procedure in the winter. Kochanowicz, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, can go back onto the 60-day injured list next season.
They also added left-hander Nicolò Pinazzi to the 40-man roster. Pinazzi, 27, was signed out of an independent league before posting an 0.84 ERA at four levels of the Angels’ system in 2026. He struck out 103 in 64 innings.
The Angels’ 40-man roster is currently at 37.