The Los Angeles Angels are still playoff contenders, as crazy as that sounds, but should probably trade this left-hander for a haul.
The Los Angeles Angels, despite being 36-51 and in last place of the American League West, are still in the playoff hunt and could find itself in a wild card spot by the trade deadline given how weak the AL is this year.
The Angels were rolling over the two weeks, splitting a four-game series with the Athletics before taking two of three from them as well as knocking off the Baltimore Orioles twice in three contests, but have lost a crucial series to the Seattle Mariners after dropping the first two games.
Taking series from two division rivals would have been massive, but salvaging the series Thursday night would be equally as big for Los Angeles. The Halos are just eight games back from the first-place Texas Rangers and from the final AL wild card spot, so the team is still well within contention.
But let’s be honest – the Angels probably aren’t making the playoffs. Even if Los Angeles stands pat at the trade deadline or acquires some sort of reinforcement and gets into the dance, the team is unlikely to make it very far. It would be in the organization’s best interest to move players of interest for as much as it can get.
Before he was fired, general manager Perry Minasian stated that he didn’t want to move any young players with trade value. But now that he’s been canned and replaced by John Mozeliak, the Angels may be open to doing business on guys such as left-hander Reid Detmers, although owner Arte Moreno is just as stingy as Minasian was.
Detmers has been one of Major League Baseball’s top strikeout pitchers this season and is just 26-years-old in a market that highly values healthy arms. ESPN’s David Schoenfield thinks the Angels should move Detmers and believes there will be a lot of interest there.
“After spending all of 2025 in the bullpen, Detmers moved back into the rotation and is having his best season, ranking in the top 10 in the majors in strikeouts while holding batters to a .206 average,” Schoenfield wrote Thursday.
“Here's the kicker: Even though he first reached the majors in 2021, Detmers is still under team control through 2028 while making just $2.625 million.”
Schoenfield wisely advises that fans shouldn’t get their hopes up regarding a possible teardown, but if Detmers is moved, he thinks the St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Nationals, Arizona Diamondbacks and Athletics could be suitors in his sweepstakes.
“Let's group these teams together since they're in a similar position: They all need rotation help, and though they don't necessarily feel like playoff teams, they're all in the playoff chase, with the Cardinals leading the way.
“The advantage in trading for Detmers is he comes with those additional years of team control, so even if you miss the playoffs, you'll have him for additional years.”
Schoenfield also mentions that this applies to right-hander José Soriano, who is under team control through 2028 as well.
