Angels sign former Blue Jays reliever to minor league contract

The Los Angeles Angels signed veteran right-handed reliever Dillon Tate to a minor league contract Thursday and assigned the 32-year-old to the team’s Arizona complex, where he will build up in rookie ball before receiving an expected assignment to Triple-A Salt Lake.

Tate entered free agency after the Toronto Blue Jays outrighted him off their 40-man roster following the 2025 season. He had previously elected free agency after clearing waivers in November before returning to Toronto on a one-year, $1.4 million contract on March 12, 2025.

During the 2025 campaign, Tate appeared in five games for the Blue Jays before being designated for assignment. After clearing waivers, he was sent to Triple-A Buffalo on May 12. Toronto recalled him again on Sept. 1, and he finished the season on the major league roster. Across six appearances to end the year, he recorded a 4.26 ERA. Earlier in the season, he compiled a 5.06 ERA over 5.1 innings in five outings. He also excelled at Triple-A, logging a 2.06 ERA over 39.1 innings while striking out 22.8% of opposing hitters, though he issued walks at a 12% rate.

Originally selected fourth overall by the Texas Rangers in the 2015 MLB Draft, Tate never pitched for Texas after being traded to the New York Yankees in 2016. The Yankees later dealt him to the Baltimore Orioles in 2018, where he made his major league debut in 2019. He spent most of his big league career with Baltimore before Toronto claimed him off waivers in September 2024.

Across parts of six MLB seasons, Tate owns a 7-14 record with a 4.09 ERA over 222 innings. His addition provides organizational pitching depth for an Angels bullpen that ranks 24th in the majors with a 4.62 ERA. While the relief unit has improved to a 3.21 ERA over the past month, it continues to battle control issues, carrying the second-highest walk rate in baseball.

Tate is expected to be an option for a major league call-up later in the season as roster opportunities develop.

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