A Fresh Start, A New Era
October 4, 2026 - Written by Jacob Firmage
the rookie and the vet 🏆 Congratulations to Walbert Ureña (Nick Adenhart Pitcher of the Year) and Mike Trout (Team MVP), on winning their respective awards, as voted on by their teammates! https://t.co/CZEyXTB14J
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) September 20, 2026
The Angels may have had their worst season in franchise history, but that did not come without reason for celebration. Arte Moreno released control of the underperforming and directionless ball club and has fans prepared for the dawning of a new era.
So, what comes with that? The new ownership is the richest in baseball. The fans have the longest playoff drought in North American sports. They haven’t won a playoff game since 2009. Obviously, we will see the club spend and restock on the fly, creating a super-team similar to what the crosstown Dodgers have done. Right?
I picture the Anakin and Padmé meme with her asking, “Right?” again.
In this fan’s opinion, no.
I believe we will see a series of moves that feel unexciting and, to a portion of the fans, wrong and like a team idle in misery. With the upcoming lockout and the fact KSE will not begin its tenure as owner until a spring vote, I think we see a pair of one-year deals, perhaps with an option for the sake of not just being one-year deals. The return, in whatever the 2027 season looks like, of John Mozeliak running the front office and Kurt Suzuki manning the helm as Angels manager.
Why, you may be asking? There is still much uncertainty as to what free agency will look like in the future. There are still a few names that were discussed at the deadline that were once thought of as future building blocks that should be moved.
This team has been at the bottom of the standings for years without ever bottoming out and building the farm system or developing a powerhouse developmental program like the Dodgers have. The farm system is clearly on the rise. Most national rankings have them in the teens instead of among the bottom three or four systems. But it could rise further.
Moving a Zach Neto, Reid Detmers, or Nolan Schanuel deepens the farm and resets the clock and contention window. It allows for what I believe will be the case of hiring a young, long-term option as the President of Baseball Operations next offseason with a clear understanding of the CBA and then picking the long-term manager.
That person would come in with what should be a top-10 farm system, a young roster without any payroll restrictions outside of the aging Mike Trout contract, and the opportunity to build this club into the powerhouse many think Kroenke will look to make of the organization.
So, what does this look like?
Step 1: The Teardown Continues
Trade 1: Zach Neto to the Philadelphia Phillies
Angels receive: RHP Gage Wood (No. 1)*, SS Bryan Rincon (No. 4) and OF Nathan Humphreys (No. 22)
Big Dave Dombrowski has never shied away from a splash, all while rarely focusing his efforts on building a proper bullpen. The Angels should look to capitalize on the aging roster with a few years left, losing as many as three key contributors in Luis Arraez, whom they acquired at the deadline, Alec Bohm, the longtime third baseman, as well as 3, and replace that with a guy who could thrive in the environment and energy the Philly faithful bring to the stadium.
A flip to second base or third may be required unless they move Trea Turner off the position, but that would not be the Angels’ concern.
Instead, they are adding what would be a top-flight rotation piece of the future in Gage Wood, a sure-handed defensive shortstop to play alongside Arjun in future years, and a fun, down-the-line outfield name to keep an eye on.
Other fits: ATL, MIN, MIL, SD, TB, LAD, TOR
Trade 2: Reid Detmers to the St. Louis Cardinals
Angels receive: LHP Liam Doyle (No. 2), C/1B Leo Bernal (No. 4), RHP Jacob Odle (No. 21) and INF Nolan Gorman
You had to expect that we’d see one trade with Mo’s old club, right?
The Cardinals add an arm to the front half of their rotation, a local guy and one they could look to lock up and count on as they look to get back into the postseason in 2027.
The Angels add two pieces to the 2027 club in Bernal and Gorman, who has struggled mightily in years past and may well get DFA’d by the Cards this offseason, as well as two big-upside arms in Doyle and Odle.
A hefty cost for the Cardinals, but other clubs may be willing to meet it with their own prospect capital.
Other fits: SD, TB, LAD, MIL, ATL, PHI, BOS, TOR, CHC, CHW
Trade 3: Nolan Schanuel to the Cleveland Guardians
Angels receive: RHP Khal Stephen (No. 11) and 3B/2B Luke Hill (No. 15)
While the Guardians have Kyle Manzardo in the wings for next year, they grab more certainty with less power in Schanuel to hold down first base over the next few years.
Perhaps they can tap into a little more power than the Angels have been able to, but even without it, they have consistency at the position.
The Angels grab Khal Stephen to add to their young pitching pool that is growing rapidly and Luke Hill, who likely winds up at second base or a corner spot. Both would see time to continue development with Rocket City in 2027.
Other fits: AZ, TOR
Trade 4: Yusei Kikuchi to the San Diego Padres
Padres receive: LHP Yusei Kikuchi and $6,000,000
Angels receive: SS Nu’u Contrades (No. 22)
The Padres, while on an absolute heater right now, made it through the year with Walker Buehler eating a ton of innings. Then, with an injury to deadline acquisition Casey Mize, they have multiple holes opening in their rotation in 2027.
While they are likely going to be big-fish hunting in the offseason, adding some stability to the No. 3 or 4 spot in their rotation at a $15 million cost could well be worth it for a club that is chasing a title.
The Angels further stock the lower levels of their farm with an interesting hit tool and likely utility man in the future while saving a significant chunk of change.
Other fits: HOU, CHC, TOR
Free Agent Frenzy
With four starting spots opening from this year’s roster to next year, in addition to free agents, the Angels will need to add to a few spots as well as spend some amount of money to field a roster while they await the prospects who will key future runs.
I will be leaving out any money predictions here, as we are not certain how CBA negotiations will play out, but instead offer up potential lengths and thoughts on why the fit could make sense in this world.
Free Agent 1: J.P. Crawford (SEA, SS)
Contract: 1-2 years
The Angels, in moving Neto, would open up shortstop, which could be played by Denzer Guzman, a capable up-the-middle defender who leaves much to be desired with the bat at the current moment.
Or, they could give Crawford the spot up the middle with a future transition to 2B/DH as we see one of our two top shortstop prospects in this reality make their way up to the Major League roster.
A left-handed bat with some amount of pop, he has pulled the ball more this year and hit it harder despite other metrics plummeting. He isn’t a long-term option, but one who could try to pepper the short wall in right field and potentially be flipped come July without affecting the future all too much, outside of his veteran presence.
Free Agent 2: Tyrone Taylor (CHC, OF)
Contract: 1 year
Taylor would platoon in the outfield with both Wade Meckler and Nelson Rada.
The Angels will presumably give Rada a chance to man center field. He plays a stellar defensive center and has nothing left to prove in Triple-A. While a lineup consisting of him and Meckler may not have a ton of power, the Angels will rely on defense and contact, with Taylor being a great platoon option for them both on a short-term deal and an easy flip at the deadline.
Free Agent 3: Jazz Chisholm Jr. (NYY, 2B)
Contract: 1-year splash
Jazz obviously did not haadve the walk year he was hoping for, but coming to a low-pressure Anaheim could give him a chance to rediscover some magic and boost his numbers ahead of a free agency with more certainty in 2027.
The Angels get a ridiculous talent to either keep and try to extend or flip as a hopeful top-of-market guy in July.
Free Agents 4 and 5: Walker Buehler (SD, SP) and Casey Mize (SD, SP)
The Angels, for how much talent they have in the farm on the pitching side, could happily add a few veterans on one-year deals and look to move off both come July.
Casey, following a great year in Detroit, struggled mightily post-trade and was hurt in San Diego. Buehler, at this point, can be seen as an innings-eating option and not much more.
These are more placeholders than anything, and you take whatever you can get in trade value come July.
Relief Pitcher Craze
The Angels lost a mountain of games this year due to bullpen inefficiency. That doesn’t mean they’ll go crazy and bring in Adrian Morejon, David Bednar and Raisel Iglesias to all pitch in and save the day, but I do expect them to be active in the second-level and lower-tier guys and add two or three arms.
Some names I’m watching on one-year deals are Kevin Ginkel, Luke Jackson, John Schreiber, Jason Adam and Matt Strahm.
2027 Roster
C: Leo Bernal
1B: Moises Ballesteros
2B: Jazz Chisholm
3B: Vaughn Grissom
SS: J.P. Crawford
LF: Mike Trout
CF: Nelson Rada
RF: Wade Meckler
DH: Christian Moore
Bench: Tyler Heineman, Tyrone Taylor, Denzer Guzman and Oswald Peraza
Starting Rotation: Walbert Ureña, Casey Mize, Walker Buehler, Ryan Johnson and Grayson Rodriguez
Bullpen: Ben Joyce, Ryan Watson, Luke Murphy, Matt Strahm, Jason Adam, Kevin Ginkel, Taylor Saucedo and Sam Bachman
Final Result
The Angels may well see back-to-back 100-loss seasons after never having one before this dreadful 2026 season. But the club can continue stockpiling as many prospects as possible ahead of a better class of free agents in 2027, along with another year of development.
It provides a new General Manager and/or President of Baseball Operations the opportunity to come in, pick their manager of the future and have a clean slate. A packed prospect pool and really no untouchables on the roster next offseason.
The club has a long way to go to contending again, and it’s hard to see a path to jumping back in the mix even with the richest owner in the sport. Having a weak division right now makes it more difficult to stomach further tearing down the roster, but provides a more impactful future. One that is sustainable and on the horizon.
Whether you agree with this method as a whole or want to have KSE come in and spend a fortune, we can agree brighter days are ahead.
Let us know how you would attack the offseason and your hopes for 2027.
Disclaimer : (1) Links of players are property of MLB, MiLB, and Baseball Reference. (2) InsideHalos is a fan-made site not affiliated with Angels Baseball. *All Prospect Rankings are taken from MLB.com’s Rankings.
