The Los Angeles Angels have a lot of attractive trade targets for contending teams ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline, including shortstop Zach Neto.
It’s interesting to think about how the Los Angeles Angels have plenty of assets in the two biggest positions of demand, yet are tied for the worst record in Major League Baseball and will be sellers at the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
The Angels have several young, controllable starting pitchers as well as a plethora of right-handed bats that could be helpful to contenders and the team should be busy in the coming days.
It’s still unclear who the Angels will sell off and how big of a fire sale it will be, but it’s in the best interest of the organization to trade away at least one or two controllable players that will bring in a haul. The farm system needs help and the only way to improve it is to move your top players if the team isn’t winning.
Owner Arte Moreno is always hesitant to pull the trigger on a big move, but his team will never improve if he keeps operating that way, so he may be willing to allow interim general manager John Mozeliak to make some franchise-altering trades.
Right-hander José Soriano, lefty Reid Detmers, shortstop Zach Neto and outfielders Jo Adell and Jorge Soler are five players that have had their names mentioned in trade rumors but the first three mentioned would be the ones to give the Halos a big return.
Teams desperate for an edge in the final months of the season, like the New York Yankees, will have to pay a large price for controllable talent but will be willing to do so if they believe they have a chance to win it all this year.
ESPN’s Jorge Castillo drew up the perfect and ideal trade deadline for the Yankees, and it included acquiring Neto or an impact bat.
“The Yankees could also expand the search and target a left-side infielder regardless of handedness at the plate,” Castillo wrote Wednesday.
“The three leading candidates are shortstops: Neto (of the Los Angeles Angels), CJ Abrams of the Washington Nationals, Jeremy Pena of the Houston Astros or Otto Lopez of the Miami Marlins. All of them are under team control for at least one year beyond this season, which means the cost of any of them will be high, if they're dealt at all.”
Neto feels like the most likely player to be moved out of the four shortstops listed, but there’s no guarantee the Angels will want to move him, especially if New York doesn’t feel comfortable giving up the necessary compensation.
The Yankees have had issues with shortstop Anthony Volpe and while Neto’s defense isn’t much better than Volpe’s, he would be an offensive upgrade.
New York may look to Los Angeles for a cheaper option, like Adell, who would provide the Yankees with more power at a position of need (Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger on injured list).
