The Los Angeles Angels are predicted to trade both Jose Soriano and Reid Detmers before the August 3 deadline, despite both pitchers being under club control through 2028.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter forecasts the Angels will make the same bold move on their 3.49 ERA right-hander and their 4.39 ERA left-hander, flipping both for significant returns.
Soriano, with a 3.49 ERA and 2.2 bWAR this season, has been the more consistent starter. Detmers, at 4.39 ERA and 1.1 bWAR, carries higher risk but also higher upside.
Both pitchers are controllable beyond 2026, making them rare assets in a market hungry for long-term rotation stability.
Teams like the Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals, focused on building for the future, could offer substantial packages to acquire either arm.
The Angels have historically avoided trading young, controllable players — a pattern Reuter believes they’re now poised to break.
Trading both starters would mark a dramatic shift in philosophy, signaling a full-scale rebuild rather than a modest reset.
While Mike Trout remains off-limits, the Angels may no longer see Soriano and Detmers as cornerstones of their future.
Detmers has shown flashes of elite potential, despite his numbers. Soriano has been more reliable, but neither is a guaranteed long-term solution on a team that isn’t contending.
The value of these pitchers is at its peak now, before potential decline or injury.
The Angels’ front office has faced mounting pressure to reset the franchise after years of underperformance.
Moving both starters would free up payroll, clear roster space, and bring back a haul of prospects capable of rebuilding from the ground up.
It’s a painful idea for fans who’ve watched these players develop. But it may be the only path forward.
Reuter’s prediction hinges on the Angels recognizing that their window to contend has closed — and that holding onto these pitchers offers little return.
No team has publicly confirmed interest, but multiple clubs with deep farm systems and payroll flexibility are expected to be in the mix.
The Angels have not made any official statements on either player’s status.
Trade rumors have swirled for weeks, but Reuter’s call is the first to suggest both will be moved — not just one.
If the Angels follow through, it would be their most aggressive deadline move in over a decade.
The timing matters. With the deadline just weeks away, teams are already evaluating options and compiling offers.
A deal for either pitcher could happen before July ends.
A deal for both would reshape the franchise’s direction.
What happens next depends on whether the Angels prioritize short-term pain for long-term gain.
The answer may come before August 3.
Source: Yahoo Sports