Los Angeles Angels MLB trade deadline primer: 3 early storylines to watch

New York Times

6 hours ago

The Angels have a run differential of minus-62. They have the most strikeouts in baseball and the second fewest walks. They are ranked 25th in team ERA and 27th in team defense by defensive runs saved.
All of these numbers, when combined, suggest the Angels are one of the worst teams in baseball.
That has not been the case. With a 33-37 record, the Angels enter Monday firmly in the mix, just three games back of the third wild card spot. They've generally overperformed even the most generous of expectations thus far.
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That leaves this team in an interesting position over the next six weeks. Their status as sellers isn't as concrete as it might have seemed earlier this season. The American League, and particularly the AL West, is devoid of clearly superior teams.
Despite being a team with significant holes, the Angels have given themselves a chance to have a chance. They're probably better off selling whatever they can around their young core, regardless of the circumstances.
But if they have a chance at the postseason — or if the higher-ups believe they have a chance — then all bets will be off come July 31, trade deadline day.
Here's a primer on what to look out for in the weeks ahead.
There's a big difference between could and should. Should the Angels become buyers? The answer, in almost every scenario, is no. If they've learned anything in 2025, it should be that acquiring and building around young players can be a viable pathway to winning games.
But could the Angels be buyers? Absolutely. And there is a confluence of reasons to believe it might happen. One, there is significant pressure on GM Perry Minasian to win as many games as possible. He's under contract for next season, but five consecutive really bad years is a tough stretch to survive for any GM, let alone one employed by Arte Moreno.
Therein lies the second reason why the Angels could be buyers. The Angels haven't been to the postseason in 11 years. If Moreno, who is loath to rebuild or throw in the towel (even when prudent), sniffs the slightest chance at the postseason, he may well go for it. Just look at 2023, when the Angels went all-in as buyers despite poor playoff odds.
It will ultimately come down to where the Angels are in the standings. If they're firmly in playoff position, then buying at the deadline might be justifiable.
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The risk for the Angels is if they go all-in despite being around two to four games out, in a crowded field, with peripherals that suggest this team isn't quite postseason caliber. They currently have a 2.3 percent chance to make the playoffs, per FanGraphs. That will need to increase a lot to justify selling off prospects.
The even larger concern is whether the Angels decide to be buyers or stand pat on a team that's four to six games out. Close enough to dream, but far enough for reasonable people to understand just how unlikely a playoff run would be.
If the Angels are sellers, Jansen might be the most notable name they have to offer. And he's mostly performed well, going 14-for-14 in save opportunities.
On the surface, Jansen seemingly would command a notable haul on the trade market. But dig a little deeper, and that is no longer a given. Jansen's contract is for $10 million this year, which means any team that trades for him will assume the $3.33 million he will be owed. If the Angels are willing to eat some or all of that money, it could improve the return. That's not very likely, given their history.
Then there's the case of Jansen's underlying numbers.
His average exit velocity against is 94.3 miles per hour, in the bottom one percent of all MLB pitchers. Entering Sunday, his expected ERA is 5.42, a full run worse than his actual ERA. His strikeout rate has plummeted to 19.6 percent, down from his career average of 33 percent, while his walks have gone up as well.
Jansen has been reliable when it's mattered. But the data suggests it isn't sustainable. So, how will a team feel about acquiring Jansen? Probably skeptical, especially as he's set to turn 38 years old just before the postseason.
Other Angels players could be obvious trade candidates; Tyler Anderson is on an expiring contract. Taylor Ward is constantly a source of trade speculation. If Luis Rengifo can get going, he'll generate some interest. And the same goes for Yoán Moncada, who has had trouble staying healthy.
But none of those names will be of great value on the open market. That's where Detmers comes into play.
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The Angels have spent years trying to make Detmers a viable big-league starting pitcher. It simply hasn't worked. But his move to the bullpen — save for a three-game stretch where he allowed 12 runs and recorded one out — has been a massive success.
In his last 11 innings, he's allowed zero runs and 10 total base runners, while striking out 18 batters. Detmers has been truly dominant, and above his previous levels at any point during his big-league career.
Teams will surely have interest in him, likely with the hopes of turning him back into a starter. And he has more value now, given his resurgence this season and because he's under team control through 2028.
The Angels will need to determine if it's better to keep him on the roster and build around him, or strike while the iron is hot and net several good young players as part of a rebuild.
(Top photo of Kenley Jansen: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)