The Los Angeles Angels didnât wait long to act, signing ex-New York Mets left-hander Joey Lucchesi just days after his unexpected release by the San Francisco Giants.
Lucchesi had been on track to begin the season in a completely different situation, making the quick turnaround a reminder of how fast things can shift as Opening Day approaches. He signed a free agent deal with the Angels Wednesday, according to an announcement on the MLB transactions ledger.
Lucchesi Had Best Seasons With the Mets
After pitching just three spring training innings for the Giants this year, the 33-year-old Lucchesi could see action as soon as Thursday when the Angels open their season on the road against the Houston Astros at 4:10 p.m. EDT at Daikin Park.
With offseason free agent bullpen signing Kirby Yates heading to the 15-day injured list on Tuesday, the Angels badly need bullpen arms. Though Lucchesi is not slated as a closer, as Yates was expected to be, the 6-foot-5 southpaw could cover important midgame innings with his high-level ability to induce ground balls.
Drafted in the fourth round by the San Diego Padres in 2016, Lucchesi became the highest draft pick ever to come out of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. By 2018, Lucchesi rose to become the No. 9 prospect in the Padres organization, according to MLB Pipeline.
Lucchesi Suddenly Released by Giants
But after he was part of a three-team, seven-player trade in 2021 that saw him land with the Mets, Lucchesi enjoyed his best stretch of MLB seasons in New York. He started 19 games over three seasons, with a 3.78 ERA. But most notable for Lucchesi, he recorded ground ball percentages of 44.4% and 41.9% in 2023 and 2024, respectively, before topping 50% last year for the Giants.
After converting to a full-time relief role in 2025 and having some success with a 3.76 ERA and 51.7% ground ball rate in 38 1/3 innings, Lucchesi appeared to fall out of favor under newly hired manager Tony Vitello.
The Giants allowed Lucchesi only three innings on the mound in spring training and then suddenly released him on Sunday with Opening Day just four days away.
New Role in Angels Patchy ‘Pen
Lucchesi seems likely to see more action, and more important innings, with the Angels bullpen already looking patchy.
“Lucchesi’s signing certainly is the most appealing thing to happen for the Angels ahead of Opening Day. In fact, it fits the trend of most of their moves since 2025 ended. The Halos don’t appear to be motivated to push the need in a significant direction toward contending,” wrote analyst Jordan Campbell of Halo Hangout this week. “Instead, they’ve assembled a cast of misfits across their roster that certainly makes it seem that (general manager) Perry Minasian will be out of his job next offseason and Kurt Suzuki will prove to be a one-and-done manager.”
But Suzuki, the Angels’ rookie manager, had praise for Lucchesi.
âI faced him, actually, when I played when he was a starter with the Padres,â Suzuki told MLB.com. âI know he’s got a funky delivery. I know he’s had some success the last, I believe, couple years with the Giants. I know he was in the bullpen with the Giants last year. I imagine him being really tough on lefties.â
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