A Zach Neto trade between the Angels and Dodgers would be a jarring idea on its face, and Bleacher Report’s Zachary Rymer still floated it this offseason.
The proposed deal would send Neto to the Dodgers in exchange for pitchers Justin Wrobleski and Roki Sasaki, plus catcher Daulton Rushing.
The Angels and Dodgers rarely line up on anything, and the source of that tension is no mystery. The two clubs do not make deals often, and when they do they are vetoed by Arte Moreno. Even so, the Dodgers have the kind of talent stash that could make a Neto conversation worth having if the Angels decide to listen.
Neto remains a complicated case for Los Angeles. The Angels have not extended him to a long-term contract, which has only fueled speculation about where things go next. He is still viewed by many as a future cornerstone, but his defense has slipped badly at shortstop, and a shift to second base has been mentioned as a possible better fit than moving him outright.
There is also a path where the Angels decide Neto is available if Arjun Nimmala is ready to take over as the club’s shortstop of the future as soon as next season.
Rymer’s framework gives the Angels something they badly need: depth. Wrobleski and Sasaki would add two MLB starters to a rotation that includes Reid Detmers, Walbert Urena, Yusei Kikuchi on an expiring contract, and the underwhelming Grayson Rodriguez. Sasaki and Wrobleski would also let Ryan Johnson spend more time sharpening his stuff in the minors before another major-league push.
Rushing brings a different kind of value. He is a divisive player, but the Angels have a hole behind the plate, and adding a catcher with present and future upside would help fill it.
The bigger issue for Neto may be what happens around him. The Angels still need to finalize their power structure this offseason, and that kind of turnover can change how a front office views the roster.
New owners, executives and managers often want their own fingerprints on the team, built around players they choose themselves. That leaves Neto in a vulnerable spot: still a fan favorite building block, but also the kind of sell-high piece a new regime could use to reshape the roster.
In Other News...
Angels Face New Pressure In Their Pursuit Of Japanese Star
The Angels are navigating a busy winter with more than one major decision hanging over the franchise, and their pursuit of Japanese star Teruaki Sato adds another layer to the uncertainty. Sato, fresh off winning the Triple Crown in Japans Central League, is one of the most coveted free agents available, the kind of player who can change the conversation around a club looking to make a serious splash.
Complicating matters is the timing. The Angels are in the middle of an ownership transition from Arte Moreno to Stan Kroenke, a change expected to be completed by early spring, and the front office picture is still taking shape. With the negotiation window for posted Japanese players compressed, the club has less room than usual to sort through its internal changes while trying to land a prized target. [Read more 🡒]
Angels May Have Found A Real Second Base Fix In Free Agency
After a rough season, the Angels are looking hard at ways to stabilize the infield, and J.P. Crawford has emerged as a logical free-agent fit. The former Mariners infielder brings steady offensive production and the kind of defensive versatility that can help a club trying to patch multiple holes at once, which is part of the appeal for a team trying to get more dependable across the diamond.
Crawford also fits the kind of financial lane the Angels have to consider, since the move would have to make sense as much on the ledger as on the field. For now, it remains a possibility rather than a done deal, but he is the sort of established infielder who could give the Angels a clearer answer at second base while helping them avoid another season of scrambling for solutions. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Top Job Finally Has Buzz But One Delay Still Looms
The Angels finally have some real movement at the top of the baseball-operations ladder, but the timing still makes everything feel provisional. The club does not currently have a head of baseball operations, and until new owner Stan Kroenke is approved by MLB owners, no official hires can be made. That vote is expected next month, which leaves the Angels in an awkward holding pattern as the offseason starts to take shape.
John Mozeliak, serving as interim GM, already confirmed that manager Kurt Suzuki will not return once his contract expires in December, adding another layer to the clubs reset. Even before the Angels can start filling out the front office, they may have to navigate the upcoming GM meetings without their full decision-making structure in place, a delay that could shape how quickly the next era actually begins. [Read more 🡒]