Lefty starter Reid Detmers, just 27, is having a massive coming out campaign this year, putting up a 3.0 fWAR across 120 innings so far in 2026. On a functioning team, he’d be looking at an extension right about now, but the Los Angeles Angels are a mess, and it looks like Detmers might be the most likely player to get dealt at the trade deadline.
This Is Detmers’ Year, No Joke
Honestly, Detmers has always been solid enough, right? He’s had a couple of two-win seasons and even crushed it in the bullpen for a bit in 2025 before an elbow injury cut him short. But this year? He’s taken a giant leap. We’re talking a 3.27 FIP and a 3.32 xERA. That’s not just “decent enough” anymore, that’s legit quality stuff, the kind you expect from guys hitting their age-27 season who are pushing 3.5-4 win seasons. The Angels front office needs to face facts here: the returns from trading a player like him are probably exactly what they need for their rebuild, even if it stings.
The Breaking Ball Arsenal Is Filthy
What makes Detmers so good this year? His breaking pitches, plain and simple. He’s got one of the best arrays in the sport, especially that slider. He’ll throw it front door to lefties and run it hard away from righties, and it’s been a monster +14 (!!!) run pitch for him this season, with a ridiculous 35 percent whiff rate. His curveball, even with less usage this year, still gets a 38 percent whiff rate. You gotta wonder if leaning into pitching backwards even more would unlock another level for him. Yeah, his four-seam and sinking fastballs aren’t exactly top-tier, and that might keep him out of the inner circle of elite starters, but the Yankees have a track record of developing fastballs and Matt Blake’s pitching lab could turn Detmers into something special by playing up those breaking balls and adding some shape to his heater.
More Than Just a Starter
Bringing in Detmers isn’t just about bolstering the rotation. It’s like getting a reliever at the same time! We’ve all been debating who in the current rotation is best suited for the bullpen, and Detmers would be an upgrade over both Ryan Weathers and Will Warren, letting you move one of them to relief. Even if you keep everyone in the rotation, an extra very good pitcher gives the team some serious breathing room. Imagine being able to give Max Fried or Gerrit Cole an extra day off, or saving Cam Schlittler’s arm in September just to keep him fresh. That kind of depth is huge. The catch? The downside is cost.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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