Jose Soriano’s name shot to the center of the deadline conversation Saturday after the Angels scratched the right-hander from his scheduled start against the Milwaukee Brewers.
That move, reported shortly before the game by New York Post and MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, immediately raised the possibility that Los Angeles could be lining up a trade.
“Jose Soriano was scratched from Angels lineup,” Heyman reported on X. “Strong trade candidate.”
The Angels did not offer an immediate explanation, and no deal had been announced. Still, with the 2026 MLB trade deadline set for Monday at 6 p.m. ET, the timing made the situation impossible to miss.
Soriano has been one of the Angels players most frequently linked to the trade market, and pulling a healthy starter from the mound this close to the deadline is the kind of move that often gets people talking. Sometimes it means a deal is nearing the finish line and a team wants to keep a player out of harm’s way. It can also turn out to be something far less dramatic, such as an injury, illness or another issue unrelated to trade talks.
For now, though, the uncertainty is the story.
The 27-year-old has put together a strong season, going 9-6 with a 3.29 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 127 strikeouts across 123 innings. He has started all 22 of his appearances and allowed just 97 hits.
His last two outings only added to his appeal: on July 26, he held the San Francisco Giants scoreless over five innings, giving up three hits and striking out five in a 4-3 Angels win. Before that, he worked seven innings and allowed two runs against the St.
Louis Cardinals.
Soriano’s value goes beyond the box score. He is making $2.9 million in 2026 and is under club control through the 2028 season, a combination that could push contenders to pay a hefty price if Los Angeles decides to deal him.
And the Angels, sitting at 42-68 and last in the American League West, appear headed toward a deadline sell-off. MLB.com reported that rival clubs believe Los Angeles will move at least two players from a group that includes Soriano, Reid Detmers and shortstop Zach Neto.
Of that trio, Soriano may be the cleanest fit for a contender. Teams are always hunting for controllable starting pitching, and he offers both immediate rotation help and years of team control beyond this season.
That also leaves the Angels with a tough call. He is young enough and affordable enough to be part of their future, which means there is no pressure to move him unless another club is willing to make the kind of offer that changes the conversation.
Saturday’s scratch suggests something has shifted. Whether it points to a medical concern, a precautionary move or the final stage of a trade, the Angels suddenly have one of the most closely watched names in the sport sitting at the center of deadline chatter.
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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 🡒]