Fanmail Friday #11 - Who Could The Angels Be Trading At The Deadline?
July 11, 2025 - Written by Brayden Zielke
Photo Credit : @Angels - X
Welcome to a special edition of Fanmail Friday! It’s a big one as it’s Draft Season and the MLB Trade Deadline is approaching fast! If you weren’t here at the start of the season, Fanmail Friday is a series where fans can interact with us directly. A member of the Inside Halos team answers a set of questions submitted by our followers via Instagram or on our website. This week we have Brayden Zielke who will answering your submitted questions. Make sure you mark your calendars and submit your questions for us to be answered every Friday right here on InsideHalos.com! The MLB Draft is just a couple of days away and Deadline is fast approaching, so we should have plenty to talk about this month!
Q: Will The Angels Be Buyers Or Sellers At The Trade Deadline?
A: This was definitely the most asked question during this edition of Fanmail Friday. I really don’t know. I personally think we need to be selling. The Angels play some really tough teams before the deadline, highlighted by the Phillies and Mets, who will be tough opponents. I don’t see a way that we are close enough to .500 to justify buying at the time. It will all depend on how the next 3 series go.
Q: If The Angels Buy, Who Is Your Top Target? (@seanxgonzox & @hxrrizont_26)
A: Even though I really don’t want to buy, if we wanted to go all in, I really like grabbing someone like RHP Merrill Kelly from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Q: If Taylor Ward Gets Traded, What Team Do You Think He’d Go To? (@rkuhns23)
A: My initial thought is that he would be dealt to the San Diego Padres. He has been talked about as someone the Padres might go after all season and if the Angels decide to sell, I think San Diego is front of the line. Don’t count out the Phillies though. Their starting LF is Max Kepler, and that isn’t good enough for a team who is making a World Series push.
Q: What Would A Padres Trade For Taylor Ward Look Like? (@elanimal3)
A: I would love to get RHP Michael Baez and another pitching prospect, someone like Braden Nett or Ryan Bergert. This might be somewhat ambitious but Ward does have team control through the 2026 season.
Q: Who Could The Angels Be Trading At The Deadline?
A: This was a recurring question as well. Personally, I am a fan of going full on scorched earth at the deadline. This means trading every player on an expiring contract, even if they don’t get us a whole lot in terms of return. This allows us to call up our prospects and let them get a feel for the majors in a less competitive setting, as we would already be checked out of a playoff run. To answer your question, I would want to trade Tyler Anderson, Kenley Jansen, Luis Rengifo, Yoan Moncada, Kyle Hendricks, Kevin Newman, Lamonte Wade. I would want to consider trading Hunter Strickland if he wasn’t hurt, but he does have a $3.75 mil team option for next season that the Angels should consider exercising. We could also trade Ward, as talked about in the previous questions.
Q: Who Is The Best Prospect In The Draft That Can Progress Quickly And Who Is An Under-Slot Pick? (@ggonzales82)
A: I really like this question. There are 2 great prospects that would be under-slot but still progress quickly. If we want a pitcher, the guy to draft under-slot is Oklahoma RHP Kyson Witherspoon. Witherspoon is the #10 ranked player in the draft. If we want a hitter, C/OF Ike Irish out of Auburn is the pick. He won’t be catching at the next level and will be a full time outfielder. Irish is the #11 prospect in the draft. If you want to learn more about these guys, you should check out my 1st round mock draft that dropped yesterday.
Q: Should We Draft Ethan Holliday? We Could Use A Big Bat At 3B To Complete The Young Infield Core. (@deniro_lopez)
A: I completely understand where you’re coming from and I do agree, but I think it is a good idea to zoom out for a second. Ethan Holliday is 18 years old. Putting Holliday into our lineup and having him be an effective and impactful player is a slower process than we are used to. We have had the pleasure of watching our 1st round picks make an almost instant impact in recent years, but we don’t get that luxury with Holliday.
Q: If Kade Anderson Gets Selected 1st, Who Do You Think We Take At Pick 2? (@devin_rodgers_)
A: This is definitely tough and I hope it doesn’t happen, but it is a likely scenario. Holliday is obviously an option and possibly the best one. I definitely don’t want Liam Doyle out of Tennessee (see mock draft). Jamie Arnold is a great option, but for some reason I have seen nothing about the Angels potentially drafting him. As I detailed above, I like Witherspoon and Irish as well.
Q: Who Do You Think Will Be Our Manager Next Season? (@cory.estrella.756)
A: I personally hope that it is Torii Hunter next season. If, by some miracle, the Angels buy and make the playoffs this season, I think Ray Montgomery would receive Manager status and a 2-3 year contract. The Angels also have an option on Washington’s contract, but with his undisclosed health issues on top of already being the oldest manager in the league when he was active, I doubt they bring him back.
Thank you all so much for those who participated this week, if we didn’t get to your question or if you have any questions you want to submit to InsideHalos.com, please click the button below to submit your questions for next weeks Fanmail Friday! Thanks and see you next Friday for more!
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