In a departure from trade deadlines and offseasons past, the Angels appear to be willing to hear other clubs out when they come calling about some of their most appealing, controllable trade options. Interim GM John Mozeliak said yesterday that he would “possibly” entertain such deals if the proposed returns were compelling. Meanwhile, Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel of ESPN wrote this morning that the Halos are indeed “at the very least listening” on shortstop Zach Neto. The New York Post’s Jon Heyman wrote recently that the Angels were “expected” to listen on top starters Reid Detmers and José Soriano.
It should be emphasized that simply listening to offers on controllable players like Neto, Detmers and Soriano is far different from outright shopping that trio. It also in no way guarantees that a deal will come together. Neto is controlled three additional seasons beyond 2026, while Detmers and Soriano are controlled for another two years. The asking price on any of the three would be extremely high — likely to the point that most interested parties would consider it exorbitant. Controllable players change hands at the deadline each year, but not necessarily controllable players of this talent level. And of course, even if a team put forth a massive offer that Mozeliak deemed sufficient, owner Arte Moreno — who is perennially loath to part with controllable players or even consider a rebuild — would have to sign off on the move.
Neto, 25, would be one of the top position players on the market. Shortstop-hungry clubs (e.g. Braves, Rays, Yankees, Red Sox) would have significant interest. The 2022 No. 13 overall pick reached the majors less than a year after being drafted and almost immediately cemented himself as a high-end regular. After a decent half-season showing in ’23, Neto broke out with a 23-homer, 30-steal campaign in 2024. Dating back to Opening Day 2024, he’s taken 1596 plate appearances and slashed .248/.320/.454 with 68 home runs and 69 stolen bases.
There are some red flags with Neto. His strikeout rate has climbed year over year, culminating in a career-high 31.4% mark at the moment. He’s chasing more than ever before this season (36.3%), and his contact rate on swings off the plate has declined. However, Neto has also upped his walk rate from 6% to a career-high 10.2%, and his contact rate on balls in the strike zone has actually improved to a career-high 84%. He’s probably always going to strike out at an elevated clip, but he’s a genuine power/speed threat who can handle the most important of the four infield slots.
Neto is earning $4.15MM this season. As a Super Two player, he’ll be owed three more arbitration raises. That’ll make him expensive relative to other pre-free-agency shortstops but still a bargain when compared to open-market prices. He’s a clear source of three to five WAR per year at a premium position, and a new team would be buying the remainder of his age-25 season as well as ages 26 through 28. The asking price should be enormous.
That’s every bit as true when it comes to Detmers and Soriano. Detmers, who turned 27 a couple weeks ago, was the No. 10 overall pick in 2020. He’s had an up-and-down career oscillating between the bullpen and rotation, but he looks to be solidifying himself as a starter this year after a strong ’25 showing in the bullpen.
Detmers has pitched 114 2/3 innings so far. His 4.16 earned run average isn’t all that eye-catching, but his 27.4% strikeout rate, 7.4% walk rate, 3.56 SIERA and 3.22 FIP are far more encouraging. Detmers started the season slowly, but since a brutal eight-run drubbing at the hands of the A’s back on May 19, he’s been on fire. Over his past two months, Detmers boasts a 3.32 ERA, 29.5% strikeout rate and 6.8% walk rate. He’s totaled 59 2/3 innings across 10 starts in that stretch. He’s a clear arm on the rise, and virtually every team in search of rotation help will have interest. Some 2026 non-contenders may even have interest with an eye toward plugging Detmers into their 2027-28 rotations — particularly since he’s earning only $2.625MM in 2026.
Soriano’s season has been the inverse, in many ways. He opened the year on an outrageous and clearly unsustainable hot streak, holding opponents to just one run across his first six starts — a total of 37 2/3 innings. Soriano hit a rough patch thereafter, perhaps as teams adjusted to a new, more four-seam-heavy approach (as opposed to his former sinker-driven arsenal). He’s begun to turn things back around more recently and is still sporting an overall 3.43 ERA, 24.8% strikeout rate and 52.1% ground-ball rate in 118 frames.
While Soriano’s 11% walk rate is an eyesore, he’s still a 27-year-old controllable righty who sits 96-97 mph with his fastballs that he supports with a pair of better-than-average breaking balls (splitter, knuckle curve). He’s being paid just $2.9MM this season and has a pair of arb raises left to come. As with Detmers, virtually any team needing rotation help would be interested. Clubs with stout infield defenses would be particularly drawn to Soriano’s ability to miss bats and induce grounders.
There are other controllable candidates to consider, though none with the value possessed by that trio. Outfielder Jo Adell has had a middling season overall, but he’s bludgeoned lefties with a .299/.340/.542 batting line this season and has a long track record of hitting southpaws. He’s not a good defender and is a poor hitter against righties, but he’d make a nice platoon partner for a club with some lefty-swinging corner outfielders. Relievers Sam Bachman, Ryan Zeferjahn and Chase Silseth all have sub-4.00 ERAs (sub-3.00 for Silseth) with strong strikeout rates but poor command (especially Zeferjahn). All are controlled through 2030 and could thus appeal to a wide range of teams.
Again, it’s far from certain that the Angels will actually follow through on this trajectory. Moreno has quite clearly resisted as much in the past, which is why the Angels haven’t rebuilt (or sold much at all) despite a soon-to-be 12-year playoff drought that spans three general managers (four, if one were to include Mozeliak). But if — and it’s a major “if” — the Angels were to actually pull the trigger and trade Neto, Detmers and/or Soriano, those are the sorts of trades that could immediately reinvigorate a dilapidated farm system that has ranked among the worst in the sport for the majority of the ongoing postseason drought.
