October 30, 2026 - Written by Zac Holladay
LTBU Arjun! The @Angels No. 1 prospect rockets a two-run, go-ahead homer for the Solar Sox. Nimmala now has two homers this Fall and is batting .273 with a .946 OPS https://t.co/w4NaUgHOHc
— MLB's Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) October 30, 2026
From this point in the timeline of the Los Angeles Angels franchise, the team has a really good starting point for a successful team and organization. For a team that just lost a franchise-record 100 losses, this team has a vastly positive outlook for the future. With the new ownership of Stan Kroenke being the first big building block, there are big expectations for the Angels and what their possible ceiling is. Their first step toward a new and successful roster started earlier this year during the 2026 Trade Deadline.
A New Era, A New Shortstop
The biggest piece acquired over the very busy Trade Deadline for the Angels was top-prospect shortstop Arjun Nimmala. In the trade that sent rising star pitcher José Soriano to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Angels received a talented presence who exceeded overall expectations within his short time in the Minor Leagues in the second half of the season.
The Blue Jays, without Nimmala, still have a highly touted shortstop prospect in JoJo Parker, who was the 8th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. This trade felt like the Blue Jays got a better return in the trade since they get another year from Soriano and they are adding a very talented pitcher with high upside, mainly for 2027. But the performance that Arjun Nimmala has put on display since playing in the Angels organization has made fans start to lean the other way towards the trade.
In 27 games with the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels AA Affiliate), the Florida native hit 8 homers, drove in 17 runs, walked 21 times, hit .260, and had an OPS of .966. Nimmala eventually led the Trash Pandas to a Southern League Championship, continuing his power surge. So far, in the Arizona Fall League, he has continued to hit for over a .900 OPS and to display an on-base percentage of over .400. His prolific power tool has taken a big step in his development in the minor leagues with the Trash Pandas and gives the Angels a big piece for the future. But this raises a question for the Angels' current star shortstop.
Zach Neto's Uncertain Future
The Angels' 13th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Zach Neto, has blossomed into the league’s young core of talented shortstops. His power tool is well-matched with his speed, as he has put himself in the “20-HR & 20-SB” club each of the last three seasons. He has burst onto the scene as Neto has served as one of the few reliable pieces this team has had since he was called up in 2023. Neto’s strikeout numbers have been a big problem for him; he was top-5 in the league in strikeouts. This deficit in his game is a large trait, and possibly only trait, that can cheapen his value to other teams. But overall, he is one of the league's better shortstops and has the makings of the Angels’ cornerstone shortstop for years to come. But should he?
Aside from the fact that Zach Neto is one of the premier shortstops for the Angels and the American League, it seems unclear whether the Angels will keep him. In the same deadline that the José Soriano deal took place, the Angels initially called around the league to float the name around of the infielder from Campbell University. The closer it got to the deadline, Neto’s momentum of possibly being traded increased by the minute. Although a deal never occurred, it raised questions about what the Angels’ stance was with Zach Neto. Teams usually use this tactic to shape a possible value that the player possesses to analyze how the team can improve upon that player, whether it entails trading for minor league development or using him for the future. Doing this may have opened the door for the Angels to want to trade Neto, as his value to other teams could better benefit the team.
Why else did the Angels make the trade to acquire Arjun Nimmala? Did the Angels want to get rid of Soriano, and were the Blue Jays the first call? Did the Angels really like Nimmala and want to replace Zach Neto immediately? Or did the Blue Jays want to make a path for one of their top shortstop prospects? The answers to these questions won’t be answered for a while, as both teams are in a spot where they hope to let their pieces marinate within the organization. But with the evidence that the Angels pushed hard to trade Neto at the deadline, they acquired a top-of-the-line shortstop, and former GM John Mozeliak desired to clean out all of the main pieces of the team, it is a very good inference to make that Zach Neto looks to be traded in the near future.
Does Neto Fit the Angels' New Direction?
The 2026 Opening Day roster turned out to be completely different from the roster on the last day of the season. Injuries are something that cannot necessarily be avoided. But a big part of the failures within the Angels' players was that the offense wasn’t an offense to make much contact. The team had an overall batting average of .234 and an on-base percentage of .310, which both stats ranked bottom-5 in the league. If Zach Neto is going to be a cornerstone shortstop for a team, his fundamentals of hitting are going to have to improve if a team wants to make him an everyday, franchise hitter. And while Neto’s power is of major value to most teams in this day and age, it may not be a value that the Angels will tolerate going forward if it is not combined with a competent overall hitting tool.
Power has been valuable for the Angels for the past 10 years and more, but it cannot continue to be the only thing that they value. With Stan Kroenke entering as a new opportunity for a clean slate, the value of situational hitting and fundamental baseball could and should be sought after in the new brand of Angels Baseball. Unfortunately, Zach Neto is a prime example of the old brand of Angels Baseball: hope for power numbers and look past swing-and-miss. It may be best for him to be sent elsewhere so that he can succeed for a team capable of fixing his approach at the plate.
Is a Trade the Best Path Forward?
Multiple teams could be a fine suitor for Zach Neto, including the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Teams that can afford to give up some prospects to gain a bat for a current competitive team will definitely be interested.
The change in the clubhouse isn’t something that requires a few tweaks; it is something that requires a full reset. This is what the team has already started doing and hopes to continue this offseason. Both shortstops have much talent and value that could impact any team. Neto is a guy who could serve whatever team he is with well, but it may just have to be with another team.
Anything can happen with the new ownership, but we can only hope that they make better decisions than before the Kroenke era. The best possible team will be created within a few years for this Angels team, yet it just may not include both Nimmala and Neto.
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