Angels Designate Veteran Pitcher Joey Lucchesi for Assignment

Lucchesi elects free agency as Angels look to bolster bullpen under new manager Kurt Suzuki

Apr. 8, 2026 at 4:21am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's throwing motion broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes in the Angels' team colors of red, white, and navy blue.The Angels' roster shakeup signals a shift in their pitching strategy as they seek to bolster their bullpen for a playoff push.Los Angeles Today

The Los Angeles Angels have designated veteran left-handed pitcher Joey Lucchesi for assignment as they look to improve their bullpen under new manager Kurt Suzuki. Lucchesi, who was previously with the San Francisco Giants, has elected free agency after clearing waivers and being sent to Triple-A Salt Lake.

Why it matters

The Angels are trying to build a more reliable relief unit to support their push for success this season. Parting ways with Lucchesi is an unpleasant but necessary decision as they work to assemble the best possible bullpen.

The details

Lucchesi, 32, made 2 1/3 innings for the Angels this spring, posting a 7.71 ERA and 3.429 WHIP. He had steadied the waters after a rough outing against the Houston Astros, but control issues persisted. The Angels are hoping pitching coach Mike Maddux can help change the identity of the franchise's bullpen.

  • Lucchesi was designated for assignment on April 7, 2026.
  • He was previously with the San Francisco Giants during spring training 2026.

The players

Joey Lucchesi

A 32-year-old veteran left-handed pitcher who was previously with the San Francisco Giants and has now elected free agency after being designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Angels.

Kurt Suzuki

The new manager of the Los Angeles Angels, who is looking to build a more reliable bullpen to support the team's push for success this season.

Mike Maddux

The pitching coach for the Los Angeles Angels, who is tasked with helping to change the identity of the team's bullpen.

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What they’re saying

“Injuries will force teams to scour the open market for relief help, so the southpaw could receive another opportunity in the near future.”

— Alex House, Author

The takeaway

The Angels' roster moves highlight the team's efforts to rebuild their bullpen and support their push for success this season. Parting ways with Lucchesi is a difficult but necessary step as they work to assemble the best possible relief unit.