SerpApi.Org
The Major League Baseball trade deadline is quickly approaching, and the Los Angeles Angels are one of the few teams firmly in sell mode.
The Angels own the worst record in the American League at 40-61 and remain no closer to ending their playoff drought after last reaching the postseason in 2014.
Los Angeles has several intriguing players who have surfaced in trade rumors over the past month, headlined by starters Reid Detmers and Jose Soriano. The Halos also have several bullpen arms in Chase Silseth, Sam Bachman, and Ryan Zeferjahn who could be moved.
But in a surprising development on Tuesday, ESPN insider Jeff Passan reported the Angels are "at the very least listening" on shortstop Zach Neto. If Los Angeles were to trade Neto, it would dramatically change the direction of the franchise.
Neto, 25, is still under team control for three more seasons after 2026. Because of the Angels' lack of success, his rise to stardom has largely gone unnoticed. Over the past two seasons, Neto has posted back-to-back 20-homer, 20-steal campaigns with an OPS above .760. He's on pace to make it three straight this year.
Neto is enjoying another exceptional season, hitting .235/.325/.444 with 19 home runs, 13 stolen bases, and a .769 OPS. He has become one of the few bright spots to emerge from the Angels' draft classes over the past decade after the club selected him in the first round in 2022.
The report about Neto can't help but be connected to comments made by interim general manager John Mozeliak on Monday.
"I'm not going to mention names, but what I am going to stick to is we know things have to change, and what that looks like, who that looks like… But not going into this with an open-minded approach, I think would be a failure on my part," Mozeliak said.
Mozeliak took over for former general manager Perry Minasian after the team fired him at the end of June. His comments sounded much different from previous Angels leadership, which consistently held onto its star players despite missing the playoffs year after year.
ALSO SEE:
- MLB Home Run Predictions Today: Best HR Prop Bets for Tuesday, July 21
- NRFI and YRFI MLB Bets Today: Best First-Inning Predictions for Tuesday, July 21
Perhaps Mozeliak's comments suggest a full rebuild could be underway and that no player is untouchable entering the deadline.
Trading Neto still seems unlikely, as Passan gave the likelihood of a trade at just 30 percent. But if the Angels decide to move him, they would command a massive return. The Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, and Boston Red Sox are among the teams that could use help at shortstop.
