Angels' Ace In High Demand This Offseason; Front Office Faces Tough Decision

This offseason for the Los Angeles Angels will be one that all of baseball will be keeping up with. That’s not always the case for a 100-loss team, but the regime change in Anaheim raises questions about how the front office will approach this winter.

It’s a common belief that the Halos are trending upwards despite their historically bad 2026 season thanks to an influx of young talent, but how will that dictate their moves in free agency and on the trade market?

Bleacher Report, for one, doesn't believe that’ll stop them from being sellers this offseason. In a recent article choosing the most likely trade for each MLB team this winter, the Angels’ pick is to trade away LHP Reid Detmers.

Detmers escaped the grasp of a trade last season, ultimately continuing his career year with the Angels while fellow starting pitcher Jose Soriano was dealt instead. If anything, Detmers’ finish to the season will only bring more interest this offseason thanks to his stellar play in the last couple of months.

The southpaw’s 3.36 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in his first season back in the starting rotation were career bests, and those numbers only improved down the stretch. In 13 second-half starts, Detmers posted a 1.89 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and struck out 88 batters in 76 ⅓ innings. His 4.9 fWAR placed him as the 10th most valuable pitcher in baseball.

The Angels still have two more seasons of team control on Detmers before he hits free agency, so the clock is ticking if they choose to make a move. If they’re going to cash in on a Detmers trade, there will be no better time than now as his value is at an all-time high and would demand a really impressive package of prospects in return.

For a 100-loss team, moving on from one of your best players to further build your future seems like the obvious choice. I’m not too convinced that’s the best case this offseason for the Angels, however.

As I stated earlier, for the first time in quite some time, the Halos look like they are building something meaningful. With one of sports’ best owners coming in early next year, the club’s future is only made that much brighter.

I don’t expect the Angels to suddenly become contenders in 2027, but I would be surprised if they don’t take a noticeable stride towards the top over the next season or two. Detmers would play a pivotal role in that journey to the top.

If they do decide to cash in on Detmers’ value, fans could rest assured that they still have a star in their rotation after the rookie season from Walbert Urena. Maybe getting a haul of prospects for Detmers and leading the way with Urena is the smartest move long term – that’s for the front office to decide.

Whichever route they choose to take, that won't stop other teams across the league from checking in on the Angels’ ace this winter.