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Jose Soriano scratched from Angels start as trade rumors reach fever pitch originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Something significant may be brewing around the Los Angeles Angels. Right-hander Jose Soriano was scratched from his scheduled start against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday, immediately intensifying speculation that the Angels could be preparing to trade him.
New York Post and MLB Network insider Jon Heyman first reported the dramatic development shortly before the game.
“Jose Soriano was scratched from Angels lineup,” Heyman reported on X. “Strong trade candidate.”
No trade has been announced, and the Angels had not immediately provided a reason for Soriano’s removal. The timing, however, is impossible to ignore.
The 2026 MLB trade deadline arrives Monday at 6 p.m. ET, and Soriano has been prominently mentioned as one of the Angels players most likely to be moved.
Why Jose Soriano’s scratch is a major deadline development
Scratching a healthy starting pitcher shortly before the deadline can indicate that trade negotiations have reached an advanced stage. Teams sometimes protect a player from injury once they believe a potential deal is close. That does not necessarily mean Soriano has already been traded. The Angels could have scratched him because of an injury, illness or another issue unrelated to the deadline.
Until the team provides an explanation, however, the possibility of an imminent blockbuster will hang over the situation. Soriano, 27, has gone 9-6 with a 3.29 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 127 strikeouts across 123 innings this season. He has started all 22 of his appearances and allowed only 97 hits.
His most recent performance only strengthened his value. Soriano held the San Francisco Giants scoreless over five innings on July 26, surrendering three hits and striking out five in a 4-3 Angels victory. He was even better in his previous start, working seven innings and allowing two runs against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The production is only part of his appeal. Soriano is earning $2.9 million in 2026 and remains under club control through the 2028 season. That combination of performance, affordability and multiple years of control could allow the Angels to demand a significant prospect package.
MORE: On This Day: Cardinals legends stole four bases on a single pitch in wild scene vs. Cubs
Angels face franchise-altering Jose Soriano decision
Los Angeles entered Saturday with a 42-68 record and sitting last in the American League West. With another postseason run out of reach, the deadline presents an opportunity to accelerate a badly needed organizational reset. MLB.com reported that rival clubs believe the Angels will trade at least two players from a valuable group featuring Soriano, Reid Detmers and shortstop Zach Neto.
Soriano may be the easiest of the three to move because contenders are always searching for controllable starting pitching. He could immediately strengthen a playoff rotation this season while remaining far more than a short-term rental. That also leaves the Angels with a difficult decision. Soriano is young and controllable enough to remain part of their future, meaning there is no financial urgency to trade him. Los Angeles should only move him if another organization is willing to pay a premium.
The Angels’ decision to scratch him suggests something changed Saturday. Whether it was a precaution, a medical issue or the final step before a trade remains unclear. For now, Heyman’s report has turned Soriano into one of the biggest names to watch across baseball. With the deadline closing in, the Angels may be on the verge of making one of the most consequential deals of the summer.
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