The Angels may be entering an offseason where just about everything is on the table, and Zach Neto is suddenly right in the middle of the conversation.
MLB insider Jon Morosi recently said there is real buzz around the league about the 25-year-old shortstop, and he didn’t sound like someone tossing out a casual rumor.
“There is tremendous interest in the industry right now… I suspect this is not our last conversation about the possibility of a Zach Neto trade.” - @jonmorosi on #MLBNHotStove https://t.co/1AERogVlnL
That kind of comment is enough to get attention fast, because Neto isn’t some fringe piece. He’s one of the most valuable players on the Angels roster, and his 2026 season only strengthened that case. In 157 games, he put up 27 home runs, 77 RBIs and 24 stolen bases, giving Los Angeles a rare blend of pop and speed from a premium position.
What makes him even more appealing to other clubs is the control attached to him. Neto has three years of team control left, so any team that lands him would be getting more than a short-term fix. They’d be adding a young everyday shortstop with room to keep growing.
That combination helps explain why interest is already building. Finding an impact shortstop is never easy, whether it’s through free agency or the trade market, and Neto checks a lot of boxes.
The Angels have been tied to trade speculation involving Neto before, but Morosi’s latest remarks give the idea even more weight. With the club moving into a new era under a new general manager and preparing to hire a new manager, a broader roster shake-up feels very much in play. If Los Angeles decides to lean harder into a rebuild, Neto could bring back a major prospect haul.
If the Angels do open the door, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees look like obvious teams to watch. Both have the resources to put together strong offers, and both could use an impact shortstop.
Still, they wouldn’t be the only teams in the mix. Any contender looking for help at the position would have reason to get involved.
The Angels would not be making an easy choice. Neto is the kind of player teams usually want to keep and build around. But if the organization believes its path back to contention is still a few years away, dealing him for a significant package of young talent could become a real option.
For now, nothing is settled. But Morosi’s comments make one thing clear: a blockbuster Neto trade is at least a storyline worth tracking all offseason.
In Other News...
Angels Have A Rare AL West Opening They May Not Be Ready For
The American League West is suddenly in motion after the 2026 season, with Houston changing its front office and bracing for a new manager, Seattle overhauling its coaching staff, and Texas weighing what to do with some hefty contracts. Oakland is deep into a rebuild ahead of its stadium move, which leaves a division that usually feels settled looking far more open than it did a year ago.
The Angels ought to be positioned to take advantage of that kind of churn, but they are still waiting on their own house to get in order. The club remains without a manager or a general manager amid an ownership transition, the sale is expected to close in early 2027, and the current GM's contract expires in December. For now, the opening in the division is real, but whether the Angels are ready to seize it is another question entirely. [Read more 🡒]
Jake Munroe Is Giving Angels Fans A Reason To Pay Attention
The Arizona Fall League has been a useful showcase for several prospects this week, and a few names have started to separate themselves with production that is hard to ignore. For the Angels, Jake Munroe is part of that group, giving the organization a reason to keep a close eye on what has been a strong stretch of offensive performances across the league.
Munroes work has stood out because it has come with the kind of all-around approach teams like to see from a young hitter, not just empty contact. He has been getting on base, creating traffic and showing enough discipline to suggest this is more than a brief hot streak, which is exactly the sort of development the Angels can use as they evaluate where he fits next. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Could Enter A Very Different Race For Japanese Talent
With the Angels looking ahead to the offseason after the 2026 season, the conversation around how they reshape the roster has started to widen beyond the usual domestic free-agent market. A looming ownership change from Arte Moreno to Stan Kroenke in early 2027 adds another layer to the discussion, because a new regime can bring a new appetite for big swings, especially if the club wants to accelerate a turnaround and make itself more attractive to high-end talent.
One area that could look very different is the clubs approach to Japanese players, where recent performance in Nippon Professional Baseball and MLB has only increased the intrigue. The Angels are being linked in speculation to a few possible targets who could fit both immediate needs and longer-term ambition, but for now it remains more of a projection than a promise. Still, if the front office does decide to chase that market aggressively, it could change the way the Angels are viewed in the race for international talent. [Read more 🡒]