Angels deal Soriano to Blue Jays, Suter to Braves

BALTIMORE -- The Angels made one of their biggest moves as a seller in recent years, trading right-hander José Soriano to the Blue Jays for prospects Arjun Nimmala, Eddie Micheletti Jr. and Angel Rivero ahead of Monday’s Trade Deadline.

Additionally, they also traded left-handed reliever Brent Suter to the Braves for infielder Nacho Alvarez Jr. The Angels are taking advantage of being in clear sell mode under interim general manager John Mozeliak, who is being tasked with helping turn around a franchise that hasn’t been to the postseason since 2014.

With Soriano out of the mix, they could turn to No. 10 prospect George Klassen to join the rotation, while flamethrower Ben Joyce is considered close to being activated from the injured list after recovering from shoulder surgery in April 2025.

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.

It’s the second trade Mozeliak has made, as the Angels also acquired third-base prospect Angel Arredondo from the Rangers for catcher Logan O’Hoppe and reliever Chase Silseth on Wednesday. And more could be coming with shortstop Zach Neto, left-hander Reid Detmers, right fielder Jo Adell and reliever Kirby Yates also candidates to be traded.

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.

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.

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.

Alvarez is a former top prospect who is still just 23 years old and made his Major League debut as a 21-year-old in 2024. He slashed .216/.277/.298 with two homers, 12 doubles and 15 RBIs in 66 games across '24 and '25 but has been at Triple-A Gwinnett this year.

He batted .236/.337/.326 with two homers, seven doubles and 21 RBIs in 37 games at Triple-A this season while exclusively seeing action at third base. He’s also a local product who attended Kaiser High School in Fontana and Riverside Community College before being a fifth-round pick in ’22.

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.

Suter, 36, is an impending free agent who signed a one-year deal worth $1.25 million before the season and posted a 4.12 ERA with 55 strikeouts and 17 walks in 63 1/3 innings as a long reliever.