The Los Angeles Angels may never actually sign Tarik Skubal, but they could still come out ahead because of him.
That’s the twist here: the dream scenario is obvious. Skubal in Anaheim would instantly rank among the best starting pitchers in franchise history and would read like a loud, unmistakable signal that the Angels are ready to matter again.
But the path to that kind of splash looks crowded with obstacles. The club still needs a general manager and a new skipper, the deal giving Stan Kroenke full control of the team isn’t expected to close until early 2027, and the looming lockout only adds more uncertainty to an already messy picture.
Then there’s the bigger question hanging over everything: which direction do the Angels actually want to go?
They could push in and try to contend. Or they could pull back, reset, and build more organically. If they choose the second path, Reid Detmers and Zach Neto could become trade pieces, bringing back a haul to go with Arjun Nimmala, Tyler Bremner and the rest of the prospects helping fuel the farm system’s rebound.
That would almost certainly take Skubal out of the picture. But it wouldn’t mean the Angels lose out on his market entirely.
Detmers is once again viewed as one of the most valuable trade chips available, maybe even the most valuable one on the board. That was the same conversation at the trade deadline, when some believed he could have brought back more than Skubal.
And the logic still holds now: every big-market club is expected to chase Skubal this winter, but only one team gets him. For some, he’ll be a luxury.
For others, he’s the answer to a real need.
For the teams that miss out - especially the ones looking for a left-handed fix - Detmers could be the best fallback option left.
The 27-year-old put together a strong season, though the first half was shaped by bad luck that made his results look worse than his underlying numbers. Then he caught fire. Over 76 1/3 second-half innings, he posted a 1.89 ERA and established himself as one of the game’s best aces.
That kind of production, paired with his cost, is exactly why he might be so valuable. Detmers is projected to make just $7.5 million in 2027 and won’t reach free agency until after the 2028 season. For a team weighing whether to pay Skubal huge money on a long-term deal that could age badly at the back end, Detmers may look far more manageable.
His affordability also widens the field. Teams that can’t get into Skubal’s price range still need an ace, and some could pivot to Detmers instead.
The Tampa Bay Rays were among the clubs rumored to have interest in trading for Skubal at the deadline, but they don’t have the money to sign him in free agency. They already picked up the $20 million option on their own ace, Drew Rasmussen, though there’s speculation they could trade him because of that cost.
If that happens, they’d need a less expensive replacement at the top of the rotation.
And that’s just one example. There are other teams out there that won’t be able to chase Skubal financially, but would still love to land a pitcher of similar caliber.
So even if the Angels never get their dream target, Skubal could still end up helping them in a very real way. If Los Angeles decides to move Detmers, the bidding war for Skubal could give the Angels the leverage to squeeze maximum value out of a trade.
In Other News...
Angels May Have An Outside Third Base Fix Worth Debating
The Angels have spent enough time trying to patch third base that the search has become part of the conversation around the roster. While the club continues to develop prospect Jake Munroe, it is also weighing outside help, and Si-Hwan Roh has surfaced as one of the more interesting names to monitor. The KBO third baseman brings offensive production and enough defensive flexibility to make him a plausible fit, which is exactly the kind of profile that can draw attention when a team is looking for stability at a thin spot.
Roh is not without the usual questions that come with evaluating a player from overseas, especially how his bat would translate against major league pitching. There is also the matter of his contract situation and what kind of commitment it would take to bring him over, which matters for an Angels club that has to balance immediate help with long-term planning. For now, he sits in that familiar gray area of being intriguing enough to debate, but not so obvious that the front office can simply move on without doing its homework. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Maddon Puts Angels Fans Back In An Awkward Spotlight
Joe Maddon is back in Hall of Fame conversation, and for Angels fans, that brings a familiar mix of pride and discomfort. The former Angels manager, who also guided the Cubs to the 2016 World Series title, has been named among the candidates on the National Baseball Hall of Fames Contemporary Baseball Era ballot for the Class of 2027.
Maddons time in Anaheim was much shorter and less celebrated than his run in Chicago, but his name still carries the kind of weight that keeps him in the sports bigger historical discussions. The Contemporary Baseball Era Committee will sort through the ballot later this year, leaving another round of reflection on a manager whose recent stop with the Angels remains part of the franchises recent history. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Could Be Sitting On A Major Nolan Schanuel Decision
Nolan Schanuel has quietly become one of the more interesting names on the Angels long-term board, not because he is suddenly on the move, but because his profile fits what contenders usually chase at the trade deadline. A young first baseman with a strong on-base track record and a cost-controlled contract, Schanuel stands out in a market where first-base help is often expensive and thin, which only adds to his appeal if Los Angeles ever decides to listen.
For the Angels, the question is less about whether Schanuel has value and more about what kind of return that value could bring if the club chooses to cash in. With playoff teams always hunting for affordable, controllable bats, he could draw real interest as the 2026 deadline approaches, and that puts the Angels in a position where they may have to decide whether keeping him is the better play or whether his market can help fill other needs on the roster. [Read more 🡒]