Brewers fan favorite continues career with 2026 stop in Los Angeles

Former Milwaukee Brewers fan favorite Brent Suter is returning for his 11th big-league season. "The Raptor" -- Suter's official nickname -- has reportedly struck a one-year, Major League deal with the Los Angeles Angels, as reported by Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com.

Milwaukee Brewers fan favorite Brent Suter continues career with Los Angeles Angels

Through 10 big-league seasons, Suter has continued to be an effective pitcher, despite never having elite velocity. Rather, his tempo and delivery have historically done the job against opposing batters, as evidenced by a career 3.57 ERA.

That said, 2025 was a tough season for the now-36-year-old Suter, which helps explain why he lingered in free agency and ultimately landed with the Angels. Pitching for the Reds last year, the left-hander posted a 4.52 ERA, his first mark above 4.00 since 2018, when Milwaukee was still using him primarily as a starter rather than a reliever.

Without having thrown a pitch for Los Angeles yet, he already profiles as an ideal cost-friendly trade-deadline target for a team next summer in need of left-handed relief help. If he rebounds as expected, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him finish the 2026 campaign elsewhere.

Assuming he spends the entire 2026 season in the majors, Suter would finish the year with just over nine years of MLB service time. While there was offseason speculation about him potentially retiring, the Harvard graduate is surely aware that reaching the 10-year mark would qualify him for MLB’s maximum pension benefits, providing long-term security well beyond his playing career.

Whether Suter ultimately rebounds into a dependable bullpen arm or serves as a short-term asset for a contender, his situation with the Angels makes plenty of sense for both sides. For Suter, it’s a low-pressure opportunity to reestablish his value, inch closer to a key service-time milestone, and extend his career. For Los Angeles, it’s a low-risk move that could pay off either on the field or at the trade deadline, making this a signing with upside well beyond the surface.