Angels Bring Back Heineman on One-Year Deal

The Angels have retained catcher Tyler Heineman for the 2027 season, agreeing to pay him $1,237,500. The 35-year-old joined the team in June after being acquired from Toronto for cash and appeared in 44 games, batting .192 with a .238 on-base percentage and a .232 slugging percentage.

Heineman is set to join prospect Moises Ballesteros as part of the Angels’ catching group. The team acquired Ballesteros from the Chicago Cubs in a trade involving Ryan Zeferjhan. Heineman’s contract matches the salary Toronto had agreed to pay him for 2026, when he avoided arbitration. He was eligible for arbitration again this offseason.

The agreement was reached ahead of the collective bargaining agreement’s expiration on December 1. A potential lockout is expected to freeze major-league player signings and trades. The deal could also signal that Travis d’Arnaud will not return: the 37-year-old remains a free agent after appearing in 32 games for the Angels this season and hitting .158.

Heineman threw out 19 of 61 would-be base stealers, a 31.1% rate that ranked fifth among American League catchers. He also had 12 sacrifice hits, tied for the league lead. Across 247 career major-league games, he has a .220 batting average, five home runs and 45 runs batted in.

The Angels also re-signed left-handed reliever Sammy Peralta to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. He made 14 appearances for the club this season, allowing a .356 opponent batting average and posting a 6.20 ERA over 20.1 innings. He will compete for a place on the 40-man roster in spring training.