Talk of a Zach Neto deal picked up quickly after Boston scratched top prospect Franklin Arias from his AAA start on Tuesday, a move that sent the Angels-Red Sox rumor mill into overdrive. The Red Sox have been tied to Neto for a while as they try to ride their 15-game winning streak into a deep October run, and the latest development only intensified the buzz.
Arias, Boston’s No. 1 prospect, was not in the WooSox starting lineup. He had been promoted from AA Portland to AAA Worcester on July 24 and had started seven straight games before the scratch. The news first surfaced on X and then spread across baseball circles.
Boston Red Sox' No. 1 prospect Franklin Arias is not in the WooSox' starting lineup today.Arias, who was promoted from AA Portland to AAA Worcester on July 24, previously started seven straight games for the WooSox. pic.twitter.com/80QutyAlxw
Angels GM John Mozeliak said he would listen to offers on all players on the trade market, and he is said to be engaged in talks with the Red Sox.
Arias would be a massive return. The 20-year-old shortstop is rated as one of the best prospects in baseball by multiple outlets, and it would be a surprise to see Boston move him straight up for Neto. The Red Sox are also believed to be competing with the Rays for Neto, who comes with three full seasons of control after 2026.
The scouting grades on Arias are loud. FanGraphs gives him an overall 60, which is a plus player on the 20-80 scale, and says every one of his tools is at or above MLB average.
He can hit, has decent power, and handles shortstop well. For a player his age, the fact that he’s already in AAA stands out.
Before his promotion last month, Arias hit .318/.407/.587 in AA.
The industry view on Arias is just as strong. Baseball America and The Athletic both rank him as the No. 3 prospect in baseball, while FanGraphs has him second overall.
If Boston is truly willing to put Arias in play, the Angels would have every reason to pounce. The source material notes that the Angels’ chances of chasing playoff spots over the next two seasons are extremely low, which makes the idea of landing a 20-year-old talent with Arias’ upside even more appealing.
Still, the deal may not be a simple one-for-one swap. Baseballtradevalues.com has Arias valued well above Neto, 69.1 to 52.6, so Boston could need to add more to get the shortstop out of Anaheim.
Even so, if the Angels can turn the final three-plus years of Zach Neto into the full career of Franklin Arias, the move would be hard to argue with. Pairing Arias with young pieces like Denzer Guzman and Nelson Rada would be a strong first step toward building something bigger.
In Other News...
Angels Just Sent A Clear Message With The Jo Adell Move
For the Angels, moving Jo Adell is another reminder of where the organization is trying to sharpen its roster and sort out its long-term picture. Adell had flashed enough to remain an intriguing name, but the Angels clearly decided the return and the roster flexibility mattered more than waiting longer for a fuller breakout.
The deal sends a young outfielder with upside into a new spot where he is expected to help, especially against left-handed pitching, while the Angels move on with a different kind of roster calculation in mind. For a team that has spent plenty of time trying to balance present needs with future control, this was the sort of move that signals a choice, even if the full meaning of it will take time to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Just Made A Deadline Move Fans Will Be Debating For Years
The Blue Jays spent the deadline retooling with an eye on the future, first moving Kevin Gausman to the Cubs and then turning around to add a controllable starting pitcher from the Angels. For Toronto, the appeal was clear: Jose Soriano comes with club control through the 2028 season, a rare kind of security for a team trying to stay in the mix over the next several years.
For the Angels, the move is harder to sort through because it cost them a starter who had become part of their long-term picture. In return, they picked up three players and added another layer to a deadline that signals just how much the front office was willing to reshape the roster, even if the full verdict on the deal may take years to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]