Get ready for a shocker, because the Los Angeles Angels are reportedly looking to unload Zach Neto in the upcoming 2026-2027 MLB offseason, and if it goes down, it’s a huge red flag for the team’s future. After years of being stuck in, let’s be honest, total mediocrity, there was a glimmer of hope for the Angels with Arte Moreno selling the team and some smart moves by John Mozeliak at the trade deadline. But now, it looks like that optimism might be hitting a brick wall before it even really begins.
Why Trading Neto Screams “Full Roster Teardown”
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand laid it all out: a hypothetical Neto trade would be a new general manager’s first move in a complete roster teardown. We’re talking about a full-blown rebuild, folks. Neto has three more years of arbitration eligibility, which makes him super attractive to other teams looking for a young, controllable piece. He’d bring in a “haul” of prospects, which sounds great for the long-term, right? But for a team that “isn’t good right now” and has a “bleak” roster depth, trading a key player like Neto means slamming the brakes on any chance of competing for the next couple of seasons at the big-league level. It’s a move that signals the Angels are waving the white flag on the immediate future.
Mike Trout Deserves Better, And So Do Angels Fans
Here’s the gut punch: if the Angels go through with this, it guarantees that Mike Trout won’t sniff the playoffs unless they trade him somewhere else. Trout has been linked to the Philadelphia Phillies plenty of times, but the dude has shown no interest in asking for a trade. Think about that for a second. This guy is nearing the end of his career, and these are likely his “last years as a productive ballplayer.” The Angels should be doing everything in their power to compete with him on the roster, even if it’s “not the most productive endeavor.” Neto is a key player in that plan. Trading him away would “likely end any chance this team has at competing for the next few seasons,” making 2027 and beyond “majorly disappointing seasons.”
This is a crossroads moment for the Angels. A new owner and new general manager might want to rebuild, sure. But selling Neto and diving headfirst into a “major roster teardown” would be a “huge disappointment for Trout and the Angels for the next few seasons.” It’s either try to give their superstar a fighting chance in his last productive years, or commit to a multi-year slog back to respectability, essentially wasting Trout’s prime. They need to get back to an above .500 record ASAP, and trading Neto is the exact opposite of that.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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