ANAHEIM -- With the MLB Draft now in the rearview mirror, the next major undertaking for interim general manager John Mozeliak to focus on is the upcoming Aug. 3 Trade Deadline.
With a 38-59 record heading into the All-Star break, the Angels will be sellers, but how much they decide to trade away is the big question. Starting pitchers José Soriano and Reid Detmers are potential trade candidates, but also remain under team control through 2028. Shortstop Zach Neto isn’t a free agent until 2030 and could fetch a big haul, while right fielder Jo Adell isn’t a free agent until after next year and there’s a dearth of right-handed-hitting outfielders on the market. They also could look to move a reliever such as Ryan Zeferjahn or Kirby Yates and would love to see slugger and impending free agent Jorge Soler heat up.
Mozeliak, though, said it’s still too early to say how aggressive they’ll be at the Deadline, as he’s still working to get a better feel for the organization and put a lot of his early efforts in working with the scouting department to prepare for the Draft.
“Not yet, not one that I think I'm ready to share publicly,” Mozeliak said on Friday. “I'd be lying if I didn't say I've started to, like, noodle around on it, but really a lot of my energy to date has been two things: one is getting to know the people that work here because I wanted to know names, faces, roles, what they do, and so a lot of energy's gone into that. But it’s mostly been the Draft and working with that team.”
Record at the break: 38-59 (Fifth in AL West, 11.5 games back)
Record at the break last year: 47-49 (Fourth in AL West, 9 games back)
Playoff odds: 0.1 percent (via FanGraphs)
Remaining Strength of Schedule: .499 (tied for 14th most difficult in MLB)
Mozeliak said one of his biggest goals is to find the things that the organization currently does well and where they need to improve. He’s still in the early stages but implied there could be some changes in ways things are structured.
“I think my early takeaway is there's a lot of really good people that work here,” Mozeliak said. “Do I think we need to better understand roles, responsibilities and how they're being deployed? Yes. Am I prepared to discuss that in a public setting like this? No. But it’s something I know is going to require time and energy. And again, I'm really excited about the people I've gotten to know and talk to because I do think there is a smart group of people here, but how we're deployed and how we're used is something we got to look at.”
Mozeliak also said his main point of contact has been club president Molly Jolly, who hired him instead of owner Arte Moreno. He was asked what his relationship has been like with Moreno but said he’s been reporting to Jolly.
“Most of my, or all of my, communication is really with Molly,” Mozeliak said. “Keeping her abreast on what we're doing, what we're working on.”
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Biggest need: Adding young position players
The Angels’ farm system is pitching heavy, so it would make sense to try to acquire position players with multiple years of control if they trade away a valuable piece like Soriano or Detmers. They can use all the help they can get offensively, especially in the outfield, and finding contact-orientated hitters would be ideal.
Biggest chip: LHP Reid Detmers
Neto is their most valuable chip, but he doesn’t seem likely to be moved because he’s under team control for three more years. But Detmers is under control through 2028 and has premium stuff from the left side that is tantalizing for other clubs. Detmers posted a 4.39 ERA in 19 starts in the first half but had strong peripheral stats with 123 strikeouts, 35 walks and 12 homers allowed in 108 2/3 innings.
Key player for second half: 3B Denzer Guzman
Just 22 years old, Guzman has been getting an extended look at third base and has shown some flashes of his immense potential. He’s a natural shortstop but has fared well at the hot corner and has held his own at the plate. He’s batted .262/.307/.411 with four homers, four doubles and 14 RBIs in 28 games and his development is vital to the organization.
Determining factor: Is a rebuild necessary?
Mozeliak will have to decide whether it makes sense to overhaul the organization and make several trades of players under contract beyond this season. The Angels have been reluctant to rebuild in the past, especially with superstar Mike Trout on the roster, so it’ll be interesting to see how aggressive the Angels will be at the Trade Deadline.