The Angels may have found a trade market that works in their favor.
Boston was already linked to shortstop Zach Neto last week, and now Tampa Bay has jumped into the conversation too. With both AL East rivals circling, the Angels suddenly have access to two of the deepest farm systems in baseball as they try to kick-start a long rebuild.
That matters because Neto is the club’s top position-player trade chip, and he may be the best bat moved before the deadline. If the Angels can get Boston and Tampa Bay bidding against each other, the return could climb fast. Division rivals rarely love the idea of watching a player like Neto suit up 13 times a year in the other dugout, and that kind of discomfort can push a deal into overpay territory.
John Mozeliak could use that to his advantage. Without laying out the full ask to either team, he can let one side know the other has already nudged its offer higher, then circle back and do the same with the other club. That kind of back-and-forth can squeeze extra talent out of a market, especially when both teams are trying to keep a rival from landing the same player.
Boston’s system offers one path. Last week, a potential blockbuster centered on Anthony Eyanson as the headliner.
Eyanson would give the Angels a likely front-of-the-rotation arm and add real upside to a High A group that is described as pretty barren. The idea is to create waves of talent, with Eyanson pairing in the near term with Walbert Urena and Enddy Azocar fitting alongside the 2026 draft class and 2025 high school arms.
Boston also has position-player depth that could help the Angels in the years ahead. With help needed everywhere, there are plenty of ways to shape a Neto deal.
Tampa Bay brings a different kind of package. The Rays have built their reputation on drafting and development, and their system is deep across the board, including catching and infield.
One name to watch is Caden Bodine, a 22-year-old catcher in AA after tearing through A and High A. In eight minor league games this season, he has hit .356/.423/.524 with 10 home runs and 6 stolen bases.
His strikeout rate is a tiny 5.7%, and his defense behind the plate is considered passable.
Bodine could be joined by Michael Forret, a 24-year-old in AAA whose plus command is said to be bordering on elite. He works with a fastball, cutter, slider and changeup that all grade average to slightly above average, and that four-pitch mix makes him look like a strong bet to become a rotation regular in the majors soon.
Even that might not be enough. Tampa Bay could need to add Brody Hopkins, a higher-upside but riskier arm also in AAA. Hopkins has a 70-grade heater and both a curveball and cutter that project as above average, but below-average control has kept him off the big-league roster.
For the Angels, the appeal is obvious: they need volume and quality, and they need it all over the diamond. Eyanson would be a major win if Boston is the partner.
A package built around Bodine would give them a dynamic catcher, something that could pair with Juan Flores at AA and give the organization a promising tandem behind the plate. Forret would at least secure a back-end starter, while Hopkins would join the group of talented but inconsistent arms that includes George Klassen, Chase Shores, Joel Hurtado, and Chris Cortez.
However it gets structured, the point is the same. The Angels need talent at every level, and both Boston and Tampa Bay can offer it. If Mozeliak can keep both rivals leaning in, the return for Neto could get even better.
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Angels Could Finally Address A Catching Problem In Reid Detmers Trade
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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 🡒]