Angels deal Soriano to Blue Jays, Suter to Braves, Adell to Guardians

BALTIMORE -- The Angels are making the most out of being clear sellers for the first time in several years, as they traded right-hander José Soriano to the Blue Jays, veteran reliever Brent Suter to the Braves and outfielder Jo Adell to the Guardians for a haul of five prospects ahead of Monday’s Trade Deadline.

It started early Monday, when they traded to the Blue Jays for shortstop Arjun Nimmala, outfielder Eddie Micheletti Jr. and right-hander Angel Rivero. Later, the Angels acquired infielder Nacho Alvarez Jr. from Atlanta in exchange for Suter before getting catcher Jacob Cozart from Cleveland for Adell.

It came after the Angels also acquired third-base prospect Angel Arredondo from the Rangers for catcher Logan O’Hoppe and reliever Chase Silseth on Wednesday. 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.

It marks a shift for the organization under interim general manager John Mozeliak, especially considering Soriano, Adell, O’Hoppe and Silseth are all under team control beyond this year. And more could be coming with shortstop Zach Neto, left-hander Reid Detmers and reliever Kirby Yates also candidates to be traded.

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. Infielder Adam Frazier also could be activated from the IL to take Adell’s spot on the roster.

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 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, and he becomes the club’s No. 2 prospect behind right-hander Tyler Bremner.

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

Braves receive: LHP Brent Suter
Angels receive: INF Nacho Alvarez Jr.

Guardians receive: RF Jo Adell
Angels receive: C Jacob Cozart (LAA's No. 18 prospect)

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 MLB debut as a 21-year-old in 2024. The Fontana, Calif., native slashed .216/.277/.298 with two homers, 12 doubles and 15 RBIs in 66 games across '24 and '25, but he has been at Triple-A Gwinnett this year.

Cozart, 23, fits a need as a defensive-minded catcher who hits left-handed. The 2024 second-round pick was ranked as Cleveland's No. 18 prospect and batted .239/.330/.384 in 79 games at Double-A Akron this year.

Meanwhile, the Angels are parting with Soriano, who rode an incredible start to the season to a solid 3.29 ERA in 22 starts this year. 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.

Adell, once one of the game’s top prospects, had been with the organization since being the No. 10 overall pick in the 2017 Draft and isn’t a free agent until after ‘27. He struggled early in his career before finally breaking out with 37 homers and 98 RBIs in 152 games last year. But his power numbers declined this year, with a .395 slugging percentage in 111 games.