Two Mock Trades for the Halos
Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins (Jeffrey Becker/USA Today Sports)
1. Trade José Soriano and Joswa Lugo for Joe Ryan
If there’s one thing the Angels still badly need, it’s consistent and reliable pitching. One AL Central name that keeps popping up as a target is Joe Ryan from the Twins. Ryan has two years of team control through the 2027 season, and is only 29 years old. He’s the type of durable, sub 4.00 ERA starter the Angels have been missing, with a 3.78 ERA and 1.075 WHIP over the last four seasons. Since he is under control, won’t destroy the payroll, and an established talented starter, the prospect package has to be decent. Minnesota has been open to re-tooling, so if they decide to move the All Star, Derek Falvey will move him for the right price. That said, the Twins feel they have a shot at a Wild Card with their current roster, given the weak state of the AL Central.
A package centered around José Soriano, a promising young starter with three years of team control, would be attractive to the Twins. A young lottery ticket type infielder with high upside, such as Joswa Lugo, could pair with Soriano. The Twins would get another year of control with Soriano, even if he’s not the pitcher Joe Ryan is. Lugo gives them some more upside in the middle infield, while also avoiding a massive hole on the roster from losing Ryan. The Angels get an ace for their pitching staff, which currently boasts Yusei Kikuchi as their #1 starter.
Angels Starting Pitching Depth (Fangraphs)
2. Trade Jo Adell for Bryson Stott & Nick Castellanos
The Angels’ outfield is crowded and simultaneously unsettled. There’s talent there, but not everyone fits long-term– the front office has a chance to sell high on Jo Adell. The former 1st round pick broke out in 2025 showing legit game power, slugging .485 with 37 home runs. He’s under team control for two more seasons, athletic, and demonstrates legit power as a younger player, giving him value in the trade market.
Moving a power hitter like Jo could net a return for an everyday 2B or a high leverage relief arm, both areas where new skipper Kurt Suzuki could use help. Willingness to take on, say, Nick Castellanos as a salary dump would allow Perry to get an even better return. Adell could plug in for CF in the short term until Crawford proves himself in Philly. From Anaheim’s perspective, Castellanos could come close to replacing Adell offensively, though his $20M salary is pricey. An above average defender at second like Bryson Stott would be a great pairing for Zach Neto, and he has the same two years of team control as Adell. Christian Moore struggled mightily in 2025, with a 33.7% K rate, demonstrating that he’s not ready for everyday at bats.
Bryson Stott Phillies Metrics (Baseball Savant)
The Big Picture
The gameplan here is to target controllable pitching in the two year window, trade from areas of surplus, and add depth the smart way. If the Angels stick to that plan, 2026 could finally feel like real progress and a real shot at a playoff rather than another reset button. Fans are already worried about throwing in the towel before Spring Training is even set to begin. The farm system has improved, but is still not anything to write home about and the Angels’ pitching held the team back from a shot at the AL West in 2025. Neto, O’Hoppe, and co. have given fans some excitement, and these deals will accelerate them further toward relevance in the American League.