According to multiple sources, Angels interim general manager John Mozeliak is “willing to discuss” more than just players on expiring contracts, with shortstop Zach Neto and starting pitchers Reid Detmers and José Soriano potentially in play to be traded.
One source said the Angels are “collecting information” on the potential return for each of the three players, and while it’s far from a certainty that Mozeliak will trade any of the trio, the fact that he appears open to such a scenario is notable.
Owner Arte Moreno has resisted moving players under club control in past years. In some cases – namely Shohei Ohtani in 2023 – Moreno has even nixed the trades of impending free agents at the Trade Deadline.
That may change this summer. The Angels made their first move of the week Wednesday night, sending right-hander Chase Silseth and catcher Logan O’Hoppe to the Rangers for Minor League infielder Angel Arredondo. O’Hoppe has two more years of club control, though he’s having a subpar season (4 HR, .565 OPS in 75 games), prompting the Rangers to option him to Triple-A after the trade. Silseth has a 2.72 ERA in 47 appearances and won’t be arbitration-eligible for the first time until the end of the 2027 season.
Mozeliak became Los Angeles’ interim GM in late June after Perry Minasian was fired, brought on to run the baseball operations department and to assist with the search for a new GM after the season. While his contract only runs through December, some believe the 57-year-old could be an option to fill the GM role on a full-time basis.
Los Angeles has some expiring contracts to deal; OF/DH Jorge Soler and relievers Kirby Yates and Brent Suter all figure to be moved by Monday. Detmers and Soriano – who are each under club control through 2028 – would be valued by a number of contenders, as would Neto, who has three more years of arbitration-eligibility. Outfielder Jo Adell is arbitration-eligible for the final time next winter.
“I don’t know what Mo is going to be allowed to do,” an NL executive said.
“If they trade Detmers, Soriano and Neto, they can probably fill up half of their top-20 [prospect list],” an AL executive said. “Will they do it? Who knows?”
The Royals are surefire sellers this week, but don’t look for Kansas City to trade away any of its controllable players.
According to sources, the Royals are open to moving their expiring contracts, most notably reliever John Schreiber and outfielders Lane Thomas and Starling Marte, but players with control beyond 2026 – namely pitchers Michael Wacha, Seth Lugo, Daniel Lynch IV and Alex Lange – will likely remain in Kansas City after the Trade Deadline has passed.
“They’re trying to contend in 2027 and they think those guys are part of that equation,” a rival executive said. “It doesn’t seem like they’re going to move any of them. Maybe one of the relievers, but that would be it.”
Another seller looking to move expiring contracts is the Rockies, who appear more open to moving controllable players but, according to sources, aren’t interested in a full-on sale.
“They’re a way better team than they were last year,” an NL executive said. “[President of baseball operations Paul DePodesta] doesn’t want to lose 100 games, and they have some momentum. That’s a good group to build around.”
Reliever Antonio Senzatela and starter Tomoyuki Sugano – both impending free agents – could be dealt, while the Rockies will listen on players including outfielders Mickey Moniak (under control through 2027) and Jake McCarthy (under control through 2028) and reliever Brennan Bernardino (under control through 2029). Michael Lorenzen, who has a $9 million club option for 2027, could also be moved.
“They aren’t going to move guys just to move them,” an NL executive said.
• The Braves are in need of at least one starting pitcher, and while they have been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Tarik Skubal, there are a number of pitchers who could fit the bill for Atlanta including Kevin Gausman, Robbie Ray and Clay Holmes. Atlanta is also in the market for a right-handed outfield bat and bullpen help, but an NL executive believes president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos may slow-play his hand as Monday’s Deadline approaches. “I think Alex could play this like he did [in 2021] where he waited until the end and bought all the guys around the fringes,” an NL executive said.
• The Mariners continue to look for both a bat and bullpen help, and according to sources, Seattle is open to dealing one of its starting pitchers to fill other holes. Luis Castillo is the arm the Mariners would ideally like to trade, though they would probably need to either take on some of his contract (he’s owed roughly $30 million through the end of 2027 and has a $25 million vesting option for 2028 if he throws 180 innings in 2027) or attach a prospect in order to move him. Emerson Hancock is also potentially available in the right deal, sources said.
• While Mason Miller has been the headliner when talking about the Padres, a source believes San Diego could move Michael King by Monday. King has a $28 million player option for 2027 and a $30 million player option for 2028, potentially sending him to the open market again this offseason. The Padres are said to be in the market for controllable starting pitching, and if president of baseball operations A.J. Preller were to acquire pieces for King, he could conceivably use them to land longer-term rotation options.
