The Angels are closing in on a minor league deal with a left-handed major leaguer Brent SuterChris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports. The Diamond Sports Management client will be the Halos’ fourth veteran offseason signing.
The 36-year-old Suter throws in many ways – a low-throwing, rubber-armed lefty who relies heavily on command and soft touch while often throwing multiple innings during the outing. Last year’s 87.3 mph was the second-fastest average he’s posted against his four-seamer in any of his 10 major league seasons. His 89.1 mph average sinker was classy.
Obviously, Suter isn’t going to blow any hitters away with power stuff. However, he has only walked 6.1% of his batters in a career (6.2% in 2025) and regularly posts some of the league’s slowest exit velocity and strikeout rates. Suter can still land punchouts, but last year’s 18.2% mark was four percent off average. He hasn’t posted a major league strikeout rate since 2021 and has a 18.8% mark in the four seasons since then.
That hasn’t stopped Suter from being a generally viable relief option. Last year’s 4.52 ERA was a career-worst mark but was partially boosted by an unusually low 69% strikeout rate. Playing his home games at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park didn’t help, as the 1.42 HR/9 he averaged over the past two seasons with the Reds is significantly higher than the 1.07 mark he carried in the 2024 season. That was a fair trade for the Cincinnati native, who reportedly turned down better offers to play for his hometown club the past few seasons, but the move to Angel Stadium should bode well for the southpaw in terms of regaining his home run form.
In previous seasons, Suter ranked 12th among all relief pitchers in innings pitched. He’s had just two IL stints on the road — three weeks of oblique strain in ’23 and six weeks of teres major strain in ’24 — and has posted a collective 3.76 ERA in that span. He tends to be a big man or middle reliever but has three saves and 24 interceptions in his career. He worked more than one inning in 22 of 48 games with the Reds in 2025, going 3 2/3 innings for his longest appearance of the season.
Despite rescheduling the final season of Anthony RendonHis contract will defer his remaining salary over a period of five years, making it a quiet season for the Angels. They added four shortstops – Suter, Jordan Romano, Drew Pomeranz, Kirby Yates – for low-cost, one-year contracts. Yates ($5MM), Pomeranz ($4MM) and Romano ($2MM) will earn a combined $11MM. Suter’s deal will likely be honored the same way as his three veteran teammates. The team’s other moves include trading down the Rays’ outfielder Josh Lowe and re-signing Yoan Moncada per year and $4MM.
That Lowe trade cost the Angels a southpaw reliever Brock Burke. Signing Suter also gives the Angels a second lefty to pair with Pomeranz in a patchwork bullpen where the regular infield reliever is now about 33-and-a-half years old. Suter, Pomeranz, Yates and Romano will be joined Robert Stephenson, Ryan Zeferjahn and without options is fine Chase Silseth. The latest claim to be waived Caleb Ort he’s out of options again, so he’ll be on the Opening Day team unless he’s designated for assignment before that point; The Angels, in particular, will need a 40-man move for Suter unless they wait until camp opens so they can move the aforementioned Rendon to IL for 60 days.
