Los Angeles Angels interim GM John Mozeliak recently stated that the team needs to be open-minded at the trade deadline.
The Los Angeles Angels have the opportunity to completely change the landscape of the organization in the coming days as the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaches.
The Angels are reportedly open for business and have plenty of players that will draw interest from many teams seeking controllable starting pitching as well as right-handed bats, but the question many are asking is just how active will the team be?
Interim general manager and consultant John Mozeliak replaced former GM Perry Minasian at the end of June after a disastrous tenure and he was tasked with getting the Angels back on the right track. In order to do that, Mozeliak will need to acquire as much young talent as he can for veterans drawing interest from playoff contenders.
Owner Arte Moreno is hesitant to move any big name player that would make his team worse, but the team clearly needs to make changes and go back to the drawing board, so moving at least one of his coveted starting pitchers and a right-handed bat or two would help revitalize a lackluster farm system.
Left-hander Reid Detmers, right-hander José Soriano and shortstop Zach Neto have generated the most interest from teams around the league and each one of them would bring back a haul for Los Angeles.
Mozeliak said the franchise needs to have an open mind, so it seems like most players are on the table for the right price. It’s a seller’s market this year, so buying teams are going to have to overpay to acquire guys like Detmers, Soriano and Neto.
Even though the team is open to moving these players according to people who have spoken with Mozeliak recently, the years of control doesn’t pressure the Halos into making a move they don’t really want to make.
“Detmers and Soriano are controllable through the 2028 season, Neto through 2029,” ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez wrote Thursday. “But Mozeliak could be tempted to take advantage of what is expected to be a major sellers' market, especially with the knowledge that the Angels are not a year away -- or two, or potentially even three -- from legitimate contention.”
It seems like Mozeliak would green light a trade for any of those guys if it’s a good deal, but his biggest issue is whether Moreno lets him do his thing or not. If the owner values the health of his organization, a team that hasn’t been to the postseason in over 11 years, he will sign off on making some big moves.
