The Angels’ trade-deadline picture got a lot clearer Friday afternoon, and José Soriano is right in the middle of it.
Soriano has been scratched from his scheduled start tonight against the Brewers, with reliever Brent Suter set to take the ball instead. The move comes as rumors around Soriano have intensified in recent weeks, and with the deadline set for Monday, the timing only adds fuel to the fire.
New Angels general manager John Mozeliak explained the decision this way:
"Today, Jose Soriano will not make his scheduled start. With the trade deadline on Monday and the uncertainty of the next 48 hours, we decided to take the prudent approach and see where these next few days take us." - John Mozeliak
That reference to the next 48 hours stands out, especially with expectations around the league that the market may be waiting on a Tarik Skubal deal before other moves start to fall into place.
Soriano is exactly the kind of arm that can swing a deadline. Starting pitching is always in demand, and with so few obvious sellers and so many teams still looking to buy, the Angels are in a strong spot to ask for a serious return. Soriano’s cost control and talent make him even more attractive, and the same goes for his rotation mate Reid Detmers.
The appeal is obvious for contenders eyeing 2026 and beyond. Soriano has two full seasons of contract control remaining, which means an acquiring team would be buying more than a short-term fix. They’d be getting a pitcher who could impact three playoff runs.
The list of potential fits isn’t as tight as it is with Detmers, but the overlap should be there. The Dodgers, Brewers and Rays all make sense on paper because of both their need and the quality of their farm systems. Soriano’s raw stuff gives him a different level of upside, and organizations with a track record of helping pitchers take another step naturally jump to the front of the line.
A return built around Jeferson Quero and Josh Adamczewski, plus another bat, would be a major win for the Angels. Mozeliak has also said he would like to add left-handed slugger Andrew Fischer, another name who could fit from the Brewers’ system.
The Angels could also benefit by targeting players who are already close to the majors, not just distant prospects. That kind of return would help speed up the rebuild if that’s the path this deadline ultimately points toward.
Tampa Bay has also been part of the broader conversation. When looking at the Rays as a possible destination for Zach Neto, it became clear they have quality prospects at every level. If the Angels want catching help, a package built around Caden Bodine and a polished pitcher could make sense.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, have the kind of system that could make a Soriano deal especially tempting. Any of their top five rated outfielders would likely land near the top of the Angels’ own prospect board. Earlier this season, a crosstown trade was already floated, and Soriano to Los Angeles could work for both sides.
An outfielder such as Mike Sirota would help the Angels, while Zyhir Hope - who has already hit 22 home runs at the AA level - would be another name worth chasing, along with arms.
There’s no shortage of clubs with deep enough systems to make this a real seller’s market. The Angels need talent at every level, and moving a pitcher like Soriano may be the quickest way to restock the organization.
Mozeliak has a reputation for making big moves and building winners. He’s had his share of hits and misses over a long career, but this deadline will tell a lot about where the Angels are headed next.
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What sharpened the speculation was a small but notable development on the other side, where top Red Sox prospect Franklin Arias was scratched from his Triple-A start. It is the sort of move that can send a rumor mill into overdrive, especially when the Angels are looking at ways to shape their future in the middle of the diamond, but for now it remains only that - talk, not a completed trade. [Read more 🡒]