Angels Mailbag: Free Agency Plans, September Call-Ups and the Next Competitive Window
August 19, 2026 - Written by Cade Lalim
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— MLB (@MLB) August 19, 2026
Ben Joyce seals an Angels win with GAS! pic.twitter.com/pwFXrNFAfW
Hey everyone, welcome to another edition of Angels Mailbag! This edition talks a lot about the Angels’ free-agent plans, along with what the future looks like for the organization. Plus, an injury (not) update on top prospect Hayden Alvarez.
I tried my best to answer each question with what I think are the most likely and realistic scenarios. I apologize if I did not get to your question.
Q: Who do you think will get called up next month? (@clayton.cruise)
A: Every major league team’s active roster will expand from 26 to 28 on September 1, meaning that the Angels will be able to carry two additional players on the active roster for the final month of the season.
As fun as it would be to see Nelson Rada get a shot, I believe that the current outfield mix will remain the same through the rest of the season, unless injuries occur. The most likely scenario is that the organization will bring up one additional infielder and relief pitcher.
In terms of the infielder, it should likely come down to Christian Moore or Kyren Paris. Moore probably has the edge over Paris considering he’s already seen time in the majors this season and has had a better year in the minors. If the Angels bring up Moore, he should be playing every day at second or third base, while Paris could serve as a utility bench bat. It all depends on the Angels’ preference and how Denzer Guzman and Oswald Peraza perform from here to the start of September.
The Angels have a couple of reliever options, and again, it’ll likely come down to what’s needed most at the major league level. Mitch Farris, Brett Kerry, and Trevor Martin are the easy choices, but minor-league right-hander Camden Minacci might be a dark horse to get the call for his major league debut.
Q: Should the Angels trade Reid Detmers, Zach Neto, or Nolan Schanuel over the offseason? (@coolbrad124, @daniel_noodles)
A: It seems like the obvious choice would be to trade all three and further bolster the farm system. The only problem is that they’d have to spend money in free agency to fill their holes or call up guys from the minors, potentially putting development in danger.
Reid Detmers has been the Angels’ most consistent starter ever since he made his major league debut in 2021, and the organization should really consider signing him to an extension, factoring him into the long-term plan.
Newly acquired shortstop prospect Arjun Nimmala is looking like the Angels’ shortstop of the future but isn’t projected to reach the majors until 2028. It might be in the Angels’ best interest to keep Neto until Nimmala is fully ready to take over the starting position. Neto could improve his performance over the next season or two, which would raise his trade value.
Trading Schanuel is a really interesting topic since he’s not a free agent until after the 2029 season. While he’s not the prototypical first baseman hitting for power, he has been the Angels’ best hitter in 2026 in terms of batting average (.281). He only has seven home runs currently, but I think 15-homer seasons are definitely in the tank.
Not many other Angels hitters are hitting for power except for Trout and Neto, so it’s not like he’s the odd man out. While it would certainly be nice to have a power-hitting first baseman, we might just have to accept Schanuel’s style of play, and it might actually pay off. Teams are starting to favor contact over power, and the Angels certainly need that approach.
Q: Should the Angels spend money on the upcoming free-agent class? Is a new catcher needed? (@coolbrad124, @its._.ricky)
A: Taking the potential salary floor completely off the table just for this question, I don’t think the Angels need to or will spend much money during free agency this winter.
Out of the current 40-man roster, only Travis d’Arnaud, Yoán Moncada, and Adam Frazier will be free agents at the season’s conclusion. The Angels aren’t in a place to compete for at least a few more years, and there is no need to spend substantial money via free agency.
Obvious moves will be made, filling likely holes in the bullpen or picking up a bench bat. Maybe even a veteran starting pitcher. Outfield is a position they could address in free agency, whether that be a bench bat, platoon partner, or a whole new starter.
The current squad of Trout, Meckler, Lowe, and Siri will all be back next season and could be fine by themselves. Lowe definitely has more in the tank than what he’s shown this year. I’ll explain my thoughts on the outfield deeper in the next question.
They could sign a catcher, or they could easily roll with the current duo of Moises Ballesteros and Tyler Heineman, which seems like the most likely scenario. Ballesteros needs everyday action either way next year, whether that be at catcher or designated hitter.
They shouldn’t be dishing out contracts where they don’t need to. I think they’ll definitely make some free-agent signings, like every team usually does in the offseason, but I would not expect any flashy deals. There’s simply no need at the moment.
Q: Should the Angels sign one of Randy Arozarena or Seiya Suzuki? (@coolbrad124)
A: While these moves would not necessarily be needed, Randy Arozarena and Seiya Suzuki could be solid additions to take over a corner spot in the outfield for 2027.
If the Angels are on a budget, Arozarena would be the way to go. Suzuki will likely demand more in free agency, and I don’t see him settling for a one-year contract.
If the Angels did sign one of these two options, they could ink them to one-year contracts and trade them at the trade deadline or sign one to a multi-year deal and factor them into the future plan. Both would demand a starting role, so Meckler or Lowe would be the odd man out.
They don’t really need to sign either of them with Rada in the wings, along with Raudi Rodriguez. I could see them signing a fourth outfielder, maybe considering guys like Ramón Laureano, Lane Thomas, or JJ Bleday.
Q: When will the new Angels competitive window open? (@evankinard04)
A: While this won’t sound very exciting or encouraging, in my opinion, I think the Angels’ competitive window will open up between 2029-2032.
It’ll definitely be a rough ride for the foreseeable future until the current wave of Angels prospects reaches the majors. A majority of their top-tier prospects reside in the lower minor league levels, and it’ll be a while before they establish themselves as big leaguers.
Hayden Alvarez, Johnny Slawinski, Josw Lugo, and Jared Grindlinger aren’t expected to reach the majors until around 2030, while guys like Tyler Bremner, Arjun Nimmala, Jarren Advincula, and Gavin Grahovac are not expected to debut until at least 2028.
Don’t forget a pair of sleeper prep starters in Dylan Jordan and Trey Gregory-Alford, who’ll likely debut in the majors around 2029. There are plenty of other names left out worth noting, but at least you get the feel of where the farm system currently stands.
If everything goes right, the Angels could actually be a really good ball club in the early 2030s.
Q: Will Ben Joyce be the Angels’ saves leader by the season’s end? (@zatch1313)
A: Yes, for sure! Ben Joyce has already collected three saves over his first six outings and sits just behind Jordan Romano and Ryan Zeferjahn, who each own a whopping four saves.
He’s been excellent since being activated off the injured list, going six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts. His command has been superb, as he’s only issued one walk thus far. He’s also only allowed one hit, pure dominance in a small sample size.
Joyce’s arsenal has looked really good, with his four-seam fastball averaging 101.6 mph, while his sinker and slider have both been great secondary pitches.
Q: What are the odds that major league games are played in 2027? (@tonygonzo277)
A: I personally think it’s very likely that we will see MLB games played in 2027. Playing the games is what pays everyone in the baseball industry, so eventually one side will budge or they’ll both agree to a new CBA that benefits both parties.
I could see a delayed season, but I think we’ll at least get a shortened season. It would be absurd if there was no baseball at all in 2027. Yes, the topics being discussed during this year’s negotiations are very crucial and important, but it shouldn’t take a year and a half to reach a deal.
I do think the offseason and spring training will certainly be impacted by the impending lockout.
Q: Is Hayden Alvarez currently injured? (@andres_escalera3)
A: No, Hayden Alvarez is not injured. High-A Tri-City, where Alvarez plays, had a road series against the Vancouver Canadians last week.
According to Jason Pennini of Baseball America, he had an issue with his visa, so he spent last week in the Arizona Complex League as a result.
The Dust Devils returned home this week, and he was in Tuesday’s (8/18) starting lineup against the Everett AquaSox.
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