Joyce is unlikely to be the Angels' primary closer with the team's signing of Kenley Jansen (shoulder) on Monday, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
The Angels and Jansen agreed on a one-year, $10 million contract Monday, which DiGiovanna notes will likely give Joyce "another year to grow into [the] closer role." It wouldn't make much sense for Los Angeles to have signed Jansen for any other reason than to serve as the team's primary closer, as he currently sits first among active players -- and fourth all-time -- with 447 regular-season saves. While Jansen may be nearing the end of his storied career, he showed he still has gas left in the tank with his performance for Boston last year, which included a 3.29 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 28.4 percent strikeout rate and 27 saves. It's still likely that Joyce will get an occasional save opportunity, per Sam Blum of The Athletic, but at least for one season it appears he will be an understudy to Jansen, which cuts down Joyce's fantasy appeal in most formats considerably.
Joyce is likely to open 2025 as the Angels' closer, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Joyce enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, posting a 2.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 33:14 K:BB over 34.2 innings across 31 appearances. He worked his way up to a high-leverage role and recorded six holds and four saves over his final 18 appearances. The right-hander certainly has closer-type stuff -- he recently said that he thinks he can top the 105.5 mph fastball he tossed against the Dodgers last year, per Bollinger -- and it appears he'll have the chance to begin 2025 in that role. The Angels don't have much in the way of closer-type arms to offer Joyce competition, so his biggest obstacle to success may be the shaky control he's demonstrated throughout his pro career and his elevated injury risk due to his unmatched velocity.
Angels manager Ron Washington confirmed Sunday that Joyce (shoulder) won't return from the 15-day injured list this season, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Joyce's placement on the IL is retroactive to Sept. 7, but the Angels won't rush him back for the final week of the season even though an MRI on his right shoulder returned clean. The hard-throwing right-hander has been diagnosed with an impingement in his right shoulder, but he should be in store for a normal offseason. Barring any high-profile additions to the bullpen this winter, Joyce will likely head into spring training as the favorite to open the 2025 campaign as the Angels' closer. After getting called up from the minors in early June, Joyce produced a 2.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 33:14 K:BB over 34.2 innings while collecting two wins and eight holds and going 4-for-4 in save opportunities.
