Predicting Angels’ biggest move before MLB trade deadline

One month ago, the Los Angeles Angels had just scored a run in the bottom of the 10th inning and had beaten the Baltimore Orioles by a 7-6 margin. The win gave the Angels a 34-48 record and while they were still in last place in the American League West, they had hope.

On that same date, the Boston Red Sox, dropped an 8-6 decision to the Colorado Rockies and had fallen to 32-46. They were in last place in the American League East, and after dropping 2 of 3 games to the worst team in the National League, there was no hope of turning the season around.

Or so it seemed. The Angels (41-62) are not going to make a run at contending over the last 59 games. The Red Sox (52-49) became the hottest team in baseball as they tied a franchise record with a 15-game winning streak and are the No. 3 team in the AL Wild Card standings.

The Angels could have been the team that turned their season around, but they were unable to kick-start their season. Despite the presence of Mike Trout, Reid Detmers, Zach Neto and Jo Adell, the only thing the Angels can do at this point is move some of their top assets by the Aug. 3 trade deadline.

Trout, of course, is their best player and has been since 2012, his first full season in an Angels uniform. Trout will be four days away from turning 35 at the trade deadline and he has expressed his desire to remain with the Angels and not get traded away — even to his hometown Philadelphia Phillies.

However, the Angels are expected to be very active at the deadline.

Detmer is one of most attractive pitchers on the market

This team is in a brutal position in the American League and their own market. The Angels have the worst record in the American League and they are also completely overwhelmed by the two-time World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The fact that they lost Shohei Ohtani to the Dodgers when he was a free agent prior to the 2024 season cemented their depression.

Selling off some of their best assets is foul-tasting medicine, but it is something they must endure. Trading established players for prospects and major league talent can help this team to start moving in the right direction. Interim general manager John Mozeliak has the responsibility of trying to help the team gain ground for the long run by making a couple of key trades.

Reid Detmers may be their most attractive mound asset. He is a 27-year-old left-handed pitcher who has played the first six seasons of his career with the Angels. He has made 21 starts this season and 8 of those starts have been labeled as quality starts.

While he has a 3-7 record with a 4.05 earned run average, he also has struck out 136 batters in 120.0 inning. He is on track to surpass his career-high of 148.2 innings that he pitched in 2023.

Detmers will take the ball every fifth or sixth day and pitching for a true contender is likely to raise his performance. He is clearly a pitcher who can deliver 5 or 6 innings on a consistent basis.

Soriano will always take the ball

Jose Soriano also appears to be a very attractive trade asset. He has also made 21 starts this season and he has an 8-6 record and a 3.43 ERA.

Perhaps Soriano’s greatest asset is his durability. He made 31 starts a year ago and had a 10-11 record with a 4.26 ERA and he continues to make his starts without any injury problems. He had two Tommy John surgeries in 2020 and ’21, but he is healthy and effective at present.

Neto is a middle infielder with power