Angels News: 5 pitchers including Hansel Robles are non-tendered

The Angels lose a lot of bullpen depth with this announcement.

According to multiple sources, the Angels have opted not to tender contracts to five different relief pitchers. The biggest name on the list of non-tenders is former closer Hansel Robles.

The Angels are in search of a formidable bullpen as they have lacked one in recent seasons. The list of players that were non-tendered includes Robles, right-handers Justin Anderson and Kenyan Middleton, long reliever Matt Andriese, and lefty Hoby Milner.

Robles, 30, was a lockdown reliever for the Angels in 2019, posting a 2.48 ERA across 72 2/3 innings of work. He averaged under two walks per nine innings while striking out more than a batter per inning. The tide shifted in the shortened 2020 season as he posted a dreadful 10.26 ERA across 16 2/3 innings. Robles was under contract for $3.85 million in 2020 and that was set to see a jump up to the $6 million range — a price that may have been too much for ownership. Robles still has lots of potential and a contender will likely try and add him to their bullpen while trying to turn him around.

Anderson, 28, was once a promising relief prospect for the Halos and at one point was being groomed as the closer of the future. He did not pitch in 2020 and across 102 1/3 big league innings in his career, he has posted a lowly 4.75 ERA. Anderson made sense as a non-tender as he was expected to see a pay jump in arbitration.

Middleton, 27, spent time as the Angels closer across his tenure. When he was healthy, he was an excellent piece to the Halos’ bullpen puzzle, but he was oft-injured. Middleton holds a career 3.48 ERA in just under 100 big league innings, featuring a 5.25 ERA in 2020.

Andriese, 31, is the typical long reliever and spot starting veteran that helped the Angels a bit in 2020. He tossed 32 innings to the tune of a 4.50 ERA and 4.29 FIP.

Milner, 29, was one of the Angels’ worst relievers in 2020. He posted an 8.10 ERA and 7.69 FIP in 13 1/3 innings of work. He was an obvious candidate to be non-tendered.