Ben Joyce DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Los Angeles Angels signed veteran closer Kenley Jansen on a one-year, $10 million deal on Tuesday, which will give 24-year-old right-hander Ben Joyce another year to grow into the closer role for the Angels. While Jansen will most likely be L.A.'s primary ninth-inning arm, he's also 37 years old and an injury risk, so Joyce's fantasy value could shoot back up quickly if Jansen ends up missing significant time due to an injury in 2025. But there's also no denying the fact that the signing of Jansen puts a huge damper on Joyce's fantasy prospects for the Halos this year. Joyce should still see the occasional save on days where Jansen is being rested, but one of the hardest throwers in the game will now be relegated to a high-leverage setup for the Angels this year.

According to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com, Los Angeles Angels right-handed pitcher Ben Joyce is expected to be the "favorite" to be the team's closer to open the 2025 season. However, Bollinger noted that Joyce has yet to prove he can stay healthy for an entire season, which could open the door for other relievers to earn save opportunities. Bollinger mentioned that Robert Stephenson (elbow) will likely get a few looks when he recovers from his UCL surgery. Joyce pitched 34 2/3 innings of work in the major last summer. After allowing five runs over his first three outings, he held a near-perfect 0.83 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP over his final 32 2/3 innings of work. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Joyce's status during spring training but should expect him to open the season as the team's top closer. However, fantasy managers should draft him with caution, given his injury history and the possibility that the Angels continue to ease his workload.

Los Angeles Angels rookie Ben Joyce has a shoulder impingement. His MRI results were not shared at this time. However, we can assume at this time that his season is over. The 23-year-old has two wins, four saves, and a 2.08 ERA and 1.15 WHIP through 34 innings this season. Joyce could be the favorite to close next year for the Angels if they do not seek an upgrade through free agency. Joyce was placed on the injured list on Tuesday, and it would appear that his season is over.