The Los Angeles Angels are approaching the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline as sellers, but interim general manager John Mozeliak is not ruling out major moves involving players under long-term club control. His challenge is to improve the organization’s future without abandoning the possibility of competing next year.
Mozeliak said the Angels must be open-minded after a disappointing season, with the club entering its series opener against St. Louis holding an MLB-worst 39-61 record. The franchise has not reached the postseason since 2014, adding urgency to decisions that could shape its next direction.
A Deadline With Bigger Questions Than Rentals
Most Deadline sellers focus on expiring contracts, but the Angels’ most valuable potential trade chips are not short-term rentals. Right-hander José Soriano and left-hander Reid Detmers are both under team control through 2028, which could make them especially valuable in a market with few clubs clearly out of contention.
| Player | Position | Club Control | Deadline Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| José Soriano | Right-handed pitcher | Through 2028 | Could bring a significant return |
| Reid Detmers | Left-handed pitcher | Through 2028 | Could bring a significant return |
Mozeliak did not identify individual players he would consider moving when asked about Soriano and Detmers. Instead, he stressed that the Angels understand changes are necessary and will evaluate every potential path.
“I’m not going to mention names, but what I am going to stick to is we know things have to change,” Mozeliak said. “And what that looks like, who that looks like, that’s to be determined.”
According to www.mlb.com, the Angels are assessing the value of players who remain under club control beyond this season. Mozeliak said entering that process without an open-minded approach “would be a failure on my part.”
Building for Sustainable Success
Mozeliak joined the Angels in late June after Perry Minasian was dismissed, bringing three decades of experience with the St. Louis Cardinals. He spent 18 years as the Cardinals’ general manager and helped oversee a run of 15 consecutive winning seasons from 2008 through 2022, including 10 postseason appearances and the 2010 World Series title.
He sees similarities between the Angels’ situation and the Cardinals organization he joined before the 1996 season. St. Louis had missed the postseason for eight straight years at that point, and Mozeliak later took over as general manager following a difficult 2007 campaign.
“When you look at having a successful franchise year over year, it really comes down to how you’re built,” Mozeliak said. “Scouting and player development have to be a major force.”
The interim general manager said he has been pleasantly surprised by the Angels’ front-office talent, though structural changes remain possible. He has not yet focused on hiring a new general manager or decided whether he will remain with the organization after his contract expires in December.
Trying to Balance Next Year and the Future
The Angels are not describing their approach as a total rebuild, which makes the return for any trade especially important. Mozeliak said the club is seeking time to determine whether it can make moves that improve the longer-term outlook while still preserving a route to contention next season.
“If we can find a way to do both, that would be awesome,” Mozeliak said. He also acknowledged that determining whether the Angels can contend next year remains a difficult question he is still working through.
Mozeliak was hired by club president Molly Jolly with owner Arte Moreno’s approval, and he said he believes Moreno is trusting him to make the necessary decisions. That authority could become most visible before the Trade Deadline, when the Angels decide how far they are willing to go in reshaping the roster.