The Dodgers already have a future Hall of Famer manning shortstop, but that hasn’t kept them out of the conversation for another big-name infielder.
After getting swept in the NLCS, Los Angeles is expected to be aggressive again this offseason, and the club is being pushed as a top contender in the Tarik Skubal sweepstakes. That’s the backdrop for a trade idea from Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer that would send Angels shortstop Zach Neto across town.
“The Dodgers have lots of trade capital, though, and the 25-year-old [Zach] Neto is an ideal candidate to make their offense younger and more athletic. He could either bump Mookie Betts off shortstop or line up alongside him at third base,” Rymer wrote.
Neto has put together three straight 20-20 seasons with the Angels. In 2026, he hit 27 home runs and stole 24 bases while posting a 5.2 bWAR season.
Under Rymer’s proposal, the Dodgers would land Neto by sending left-hander Justin Wrobleski, right-hander Roki Sasaki and catcher Daulton Rushing to the Angels.
It’s the kind of package that could tempt Los Angeles’ crosstown rival, especially with the Angels needing MLB-ready help as soon as possible.
“Wrobleski has already been an All-Star, while Rushing and Sasaki have teased that kind of upside. All three are in their 20s and controlled through at least 2030,” Rymer added.
The Dodgers don’t need Neto. But this is the sort of move they could explore simply because they’re in position to do it, and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman might be willing to include a lower-end prospect to get it done.
In Other News...
Angels Have A Clear Third Base Answer For A Lineup That Needs Help
The Angels are looking at ways to bolster a lineup that needed more help than it got from the hot corner, and third base has quickly emerged as one of the clearer offseason targets. Alec Bohm is on the radar as a potential fit, bringing the kind of durable, steady offensive presence that can soften some of the lineups uneven stretches while giving the club a more settled answer at a position that has been in flux.
There is still some risk in the profile, particularly on the defensive side, but the appeal is obvious for a team trying to raise its floor without overcomplicating the winter. Bohms track record over the past two seasons makes him an attractive option for a club that wants production and stability, and the Angels also like the fact that the move would not come with the usual draft-pick baggage attached to some free-agent pursuits. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Prospects Are Giving Fans Early Reasons For Hope And Concern
The Arizona Fall League has become a useful early barometer for the Angels farm system, and the Mesa Solar Sox have given the organization a little bit of everything so far. Nine Angels prospects are getting extended run there, with the 30-game schedule set to wrap up on Nov. 14, and the results have offered a snapshot of both upside and uneven development as the club continues to search for young talent that can eventually help in Anaheim.
Among the headliners, shortstop Arjun Nimmala has been one of the more encouraging names since arriving from the Blue Jays, showing the kind of offensive impact that can make a prospect stand out in a short stint. On the other side of the ledger, Kyle Robinsons line has been a tougher read, and the broader Solar Sox picture reflects that same mix of promise and frustration, with the club sitting 7-10 as the Fall League grind continues. [Read more 🡒]
Angels New Ownership Faces An Early Neto And Detmers Decision
A change in ownership is set to bring a new layer of urgency to Anaheim, with Stan Kroenke and Kroenke Sports Entertainment expected to take over the Angels at a time when the club is still trying to sort out its next direction. Even with the front office transition still unfolding, the baseball questions are already clear enough, because the Angels are in a rebuilding phase and are not positioned to contend right away.
Reid Detmers and Zach Neto sit near the center of that conversation, and whichever route the new decision-makers choose will say plenty about how aggressively they want to reshape the roster. Long-term security for young talent is one path, but with the franchise facing a reset, the other option is to treat both players as valuable currency and keep moving toward a deeper rebuild instead of waiting for the clock to run out. [Read more 🡒]