The Angels are staring at another lost season, and the deadline gives them a chance to do something useful with it.
Los Angeles hasn’t been back to the postseason since 2014, and this year hasn’t changed that reality. Even with the American League described as unusually weak, the Angels are still 12.5 games out of a wild-card spot and 13.5 games behind the Texas Rangers in the AL West. With the trade deadline now just a week away on August 3, the focus shifts from chasing the standings to what the Angels can get back for the pieces they’re willing to move.
That list could be a meaningful one. The Angels have four veterans on expiring contracts who look like the most obvious candidates to land elsewhere in the next week. Beyond that, they also have a group of younger, more controllable players who could bring in a bigger return if another team is willing to pay up.
What makes this deadline especially interesting is who is now steering the ship. John Mozeliak has taken over for former GM Perry Minasian, and the way he handles the next few days will say plenty about the direction of the organization. For a club that has too often bought at the deadline without really being in the race, or held onto too much when it should have sold, this could be a chance to finally make sharper decisions.
Mozeliak made clear he’s approaching it with an open mind, saying, “We are going to have to be very open-minded… there’s certain times where you have the ability to get better”. That sounds like a front office prepared to listen, evaluate, and see whether the Angels can use this deadline to set up something better down the road.
In Other News...
Another Angels Pitching Gamble Just Reached A Frustrating End
Alek Manoahs latest stop with the Angels ended while he was at Triple-A Salt Lake, another reminder of how quickly a once-promising pitching bet can unravel. The right-hander had been given a look in the majors this season, where he made three appearances and struggled badly before sliding back into the minors as the club kept searching for answers on the mound.
For the Angels, the move leaves yet another vacancy in a rotation that has already been forced to absorb plenty of turnover. Jose Soriano, Reid Detmers, Grayson Rodriguez, Ryan Johnson and Walbert Urena are still lined up to carry the staff for the rest of 2026, with Yusei Kikuchi nearing a return and Jack Kochanowicz out for the year, so the margin for error remains thin as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Reid Detmers Is Suddenly At The Center Of A Real Angels Decision
Reid Detmers has gone from a familiar name in the Angels rotation conversation to a real deadline variable, and that alone says plenty about where things stand as the August 3 trade deadline approaches. The left-hander has popped up in insider chatter tied to the Cubs, with Chicago looking hard at pitching help and scanning a market that could still shift quickly once the final week of July gets moving.
For the Angels, the question is less about rumor for rumors sake and more about whether Detmers is the kind of arm they can afford to listen on if the right return materializes. The broader deadline picture around the Cubs only adds to the backdrop, with clubs poking around prospects, relievers and starting depth all over the map, which is how a player like Detmers ends up sitting at the center of a decision that could shape the rest of the summer. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Could Finally Address A Catching Problem In Reid Detmers Trade
With the trade deadline approaching, the Angels are expected to be active, and Reid Detmers has emerged as one of their more valuable chips. The left-hander gives Los Angeles a way to address other needs, and one possible match has the Cubs looking at ways to get involved while the Angels weigh whether to move a starter who still carries plenty of appeal on the market.
The catching angle is what makes the idea worth watching for Anaheim. Logan O'Hoppe has had his struggles, so any package that brings back a young backstop would naturally draw attention, and Chicagos interest could fit that bill. Even so, Detmers is the kind of arm that should require more than a single prospect in return, which leaves the framework of a deal intriguing without making it simple. [Read more 🡒]