Four Angels Players Named In ESPN’s Top 50 Trade Candidates

There is still a ways to go before the MLB Trade Deadline on July 31 at 3 p.m. PT. But for teams who are riding the middle of the standings, like the Los Angeles Angels, decisions soon have to be made about whether or not they will be buyers or sellers. The Angels have the most interesting decision ahead of them that they’ve had in years.

Prior to games on Tuesday, they are 38-40, good enough for third place in the American League West. They are 2.5 games back of the Seattle Mariners for the second spot in the division and for the third and final Wild Card slot in the playoff picture. There is a real argument to make that they are a move or two away from being legitimate playoff contenders.

However, they also have some good veteran pieces that may not fit into the long-term equation of a team built around several young cornerstones both in the field and on the mound. On top of that, they have the worst farm system in MLB yet again, so the stronger argument would be to sell some older players, replenish the system and push the chips to a future year with the young core.

ESPN seems to agree with this premise, as they’ve listed four Angels players on their recent top 50 trade candidates rankings and did not list the Angels as a suitor for any of the other 46 players listed, according to Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel of ESPN:

20. Taylor Ward, OF, Los Angeles Angels
Chance of trade: 45%

Ward comes with an additional year of team control after this season, and his underlying numbers suggest he is still largely the same hitter as last year, when he posted a .246 average and 25 homers.

Best fits: San Diego, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Seattle, San Francisco, Kansas City

27. Reid Detmers, RP, Los Angeles Angels
Chance of trade: 15%

The No. 10 pick in 2020 transitioned to relief this season and has found some success, similar to other highly drafted college lefties, including A.J. Puk, Andrew Miller and Drew Pomeranz. He comes with three more years of control after this season and his velo is up 1.5 mph in the new role, so this might be where he fits long term, and trading him away could fetch a hefty return. Some teams still see Detmers as a starter.

Best fits: New York Mets, Arizona, Baltimore, St. Louis, Minnesota, New York Yankees

35. Tyler Anderson, SP, Los Angeles Angels & 47. Yoan Moncada, 3B, Los Angeles Angels

Ward has been in trade talks for what has felt like multiple seasons at this point. But the Angels have refused to sell, either because they don’t feel they’re getting equal value or because they believe Ward can help them win. Regardless, with only one year of team control left after this season, the 2025 deadline is the last chance they have to get maximum value out of him. ESPN giving him a 45% chance of being traded suggests L.A. could finally go that route.

Detmers feels unlikely to be traded given that he is finally finding consistent success as a member of the bullpen. At his age, with his team control, he would be highly valuable. But Arte Moreno may not want to move on from a player like that quite yet.

Anderson and Moncada feel like must-trade players if the Angels are eventually going to be sellers. Veterans on expiring contracts do not fetch much value, but it’s better than letting them hit free agency and walking for nothing.

Angels continue climb towards Wild Card vs. Red Sox

None of this may matter if the Angels believe they are in real striking distance of the wild card picture in one month. And two more good games against the Red Sox would certainly help matters. They won 9-5 on Monday night, and play Tuesday and Wednesday against Boston.

They are only one game back of the Red Sox in the wild card picture, and Boston is one of only two teams separating the Angels from the Mariners.