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The latest report concerning the possibility of the Angels trading shortstop Zach Neto reflects a weak market for bats around Major League Baseball as the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaches.
Robert Murray of FanSided.com said in his latest appearance on The Baseball Insiders that Neto has “a very strong market,” with multiple teams interested in acquiring him from the Angels.
Teams cannot exchange 40-man roster players after next Monday, and no team is better positioned to make a deal than the Angels.
At 42-66, they have the worst record in the game, matched only by the Colorado Rockies. Rather than go for it in a weak American League, the Angels would be wise to load up on prospects who can help them in the future.
Such dire straits haven’t stopped the Angels from trading talented players at the deadline in years past. Under interim GM John Mozeliak, however, this year could be different.
MORE: Curtis Mead injury deals Red Sox setback immediately after questionable trade
“Do I think (Neto)’s going to get traded?” Murray asked rhetorically. “I would put it in the very possible category.”
Murray made it clear that his optimism stems from the overall lack of available hitters in this year’s trade market. The standings favor sellers in general.
Among the handful of teams who fit firmly in the “seller” category, the most attractive players lean more heavily toward pitchers.
MORE: Cubs’ 6-year veteran suddenly retires at 28
Neto, 25, is on pace for his third consecutive 20-homer season. That’s a rare quality among shortstops — let alone those who offer three more years of team control, like Neto. Overall, he’s slashing .234/.325/.437.
The Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox were previously linked to Neto in published reports. The Red Sox’s infield needs only increased when Curtis Mead suffered a broken wrist Monday, his first game after arriving in a trade with the Washington Nationals.
What makes a Neto trade particularly interesting is that he isn’t the Angels’ only trade chip. For weeks, starting pitchers Reid Detmers and Jose Soriano were presumed to be the first players to leave Anaheim before the deadline.
MORE: All-Star will return to Pirates, officially retire from MLB at 39
Detmers, a left-hander, and the right-handed Soriano are under team control through 2028. Both could fill a rotation hole for a contending team immediately, if not start a postseason game.
For that reason, it would be unusual if the Angels only traded Neto — in effect, going half-in on a roster that has no chance of contending for a postseason berth this year. Certainly there will be teams interested in acquiring Soriano and Detmers as well.
Neto might be the first domino of many to fall in Anaheim.
Continue reading...
Robert Murray of FanSided.com said in his latest appearance on The Baseball Insiders that Neto has “a very strong market,” with multiple teams interested in acquiring him from the Angels.
Teams cannot exchange 40-man roster players after next Monday, and no team is better positioned to make a deal than the Angels.
At 42-66, they have the worst record in the game, matched only by the Colorado Rockies. Rather than go for it in a weak American League, the Angels would be wise to load up on prospects who can help them in the future.
Such dire straits haven’t stopped the Angels from trading talented players at the deadline in years past. Under interim GM John Mozeliak, however, this year could be different.
MORE: Curtis Mead injury deals Red Sox setback immediately after questionable trade
“Do I think (Neto)’s going to get traded?” Murray asked rhetorically. “I would put it in the very possible category.”
Murray made it clear that his optimism stems from the overall lack of available hitters in this year’s trade market. The standings favor sellers in general.
Among the handful of teams who fit firmly in the “seller” category, the most attractive players lean more heavily toward pitchers.
MORE: Cubs’ 6-year veteran suddenly retires at 28
Neto, 25, is on pace for his third consecutive 20-homer season. That’s a rare quality among shortstops — let alone those who offer three more years of team control, like Neto. Overall, he’s slashing .234/.325/.437.
The Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox were previously linked to Neto in published reports. The Red Sox’s infield needs only increased when Curtis Mead suffered a broken wrist Monday, his first game after arriving in a trade with the Washington Nationals.
What makes a Neto trade particularly interesting is that he isn’t the Angels’ only trade chip. For weeks, starting pitchers Reid Detmers and Jose Soriano were presumed to be the first players to leave Anaheim before the deadline.
MORE: All-Star will return to Pirates, officially retire from MLB at 39
Detmers, a left-hander, and the right-handed Soriano are under team control through 2028. Both could fill a rotation hole for a contending team immediately, if not start a postseason game.
For that reason, it would be unusual if the Angels only traded Neto — in effect, going half-in on a roster that has no chance of contending for a postseason berth this year. Certainly there will be teams interested in acquiring Soriano and Detmers as well.
Neto might be the first domino of many to fall in Anaheim.
Continue reading...
