Nimmala, ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 43 overall prospect, is a rising 20-year-old shortstop and is considered the headliner in the return for Soriano. It was a bold decision under interim general manager John Mozeliak, especially considering Soriano is under team control for two more seasons beyond 2026.
Nimmala, the No. 20 overall pick in the 2023 Draft out of Strawberry Crest High School in Dover, Fla., has had a strong season while mostly playing at High-A Vancouver and Double-A New Hampshire. He’s slashed a combined .265/.364/.453 with eight homers, 18 doubles, 34 RBIs and six stolen bases in 62 games this season, including an .806 OPS in 33 games at Double-A. He’s only faced a pitcher younger than him 10 times in his career.
Micheletti is an outfielder/first baseman with solid contact skills from the left side and some power as well. The 24-year-old was an eighth-round pick from Virginia Tech in 2024 and hit .251/.347/.454 with 14 homers, 20 doubles and 45 RBIs in 93 games with Double-A New Hampshire.
TRADE DETAILS
Blue Jays receive: RHP José Soriano
Angels receive: SS Arjun Nimmala (LAA’s No. 2 prospect), OF Eddie Micheletti Jr., RHP Angel Rivero
TRADE DETAILS
Braves receive: LHP Brent Suter
Angels receive: INF Nacho Alvarez Jr.
Rivero, 19, is a Venezuela native having a strong season in the Florida Complex League. He’s posted a 2.36 ERA with 52 strikeouts and 23 walks in 42 innings.
Meanwhile, the Angels are parting with Soriano, and nobody had a more impressive start to the season than him, as he posted a 0.84 ERA through his first seven starts. He came back down to earth, but he still has a solid 3.29 ERA in 22 starts this year.
Soriano started the second half by throwing seven strong innings against the Cardinals, looking much more like he did early in the year. The right-hander followed with five innings of one-run ball (zero earned runs) against the Giants on July 26, and the Angels scratched him from what would have been his final pre-Deadline start against the Brewers on Saturday, citing trade uncertainty.
