Reid Detmers might be the best value on the trade market. The Los Angeles Angels left-hander turns 27 on July 8. He is under club control through 2028. He is having a career year. And he pitches for a team that has no business hanging onto him.
Detmers has been the Angels’ most consistent starter for two years running. He throws a great curveball. He has developed his fastball command. He gets ground balls when he needs them. He is a legitimate mid-rotation starter with number-two upside.
The Angels are going nowhere. They have been going nowhere for a decade. Even with Mike Trout still (theoretically) on the roster, this team cannot win. The organization has to start selling assets and building for the future. Detmers is the biggest chip they have to move.
The trade market for young controllable starters is always premium. Teams pay through the nose for pitching depth. Detmers being under team control for the next three years, combined with his production, makes him more valuable than most rentals on the block.
Multiple teams are calling. The Yankees, the Dodgers, the Mets, and the Phillies have all reportedly checked in. The Blue Jays and Orioles are also in the mix. Any team looking to add a legitimate starter for a playoff run has to consider Detmers.
The Angels’ asking price is high, and it should be. Sources say the Angels want at least two top-100 prospects plus a major-league-ready piece. That is a lot, but Detmers’s contract and performance justify it. The team that lands him gets a real asset for years.
The Yankees make the most sense as a landing spot. They need starting pitching depth. Detmers fits perfectly behind Gerrit Cole and Max Fried. He is left-handed, which balances out their rotation. He is affordable, which lets New York add more talent elsewhere.
The Dodgers do not need pitching help as much as the Yankees do, but they are always in on top arms. Los Angeles could package prospects for Detmers and slide him into their rotation to help solidify what has been an injury-plagued group.
The Mets are interesting because Steve Cohen wants to win now. They have money. They have prospects (though thinner than in past years). Adding Detmers to a rotation with Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea would give them a legitimate top-three that could carry them in October.
The Phillies always need pitching. Detmers would give them one more reliable arm behind Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola. Philadelphia has been aggressive at recent deadlines, and Detmers would fit right into that pattern.
What makes Detmers special is the ceiling. He is not just a solid mid-rotation guy. He has flashed number-one potential in stretches. He threw a no-hitter in 2022. He has struck out double-digit hitters in games multiple times this year. When he is on, he is one of the best pitchers in the American League.
The consistency issue is what keeps him from being a true ace. He has games where he cannot find the strike zone. He has stretches where his fastball plays a little too straight. Those are fixable issues, and the right coaching staff can help him refine his game.
The Angels’ front office has been under pressure to make changes. Perry Minasian has been the general manager for years, and the team keeps losing. Trading Detmers for a package that restocks the farm system might be his last chance to demonstrate he can be trusted with rebuilding decisions.
The pitching prospect landscape in the Angels system is barren. They have not developed a top-tier starter through the draft in years. Trading Detmers for pitching prospects (in addition to position players) would fill a real organizational need.
The team dynamics are also worth considering. Detmers is a leader in the Angels clubhouse. He plays hard. He is well-liked. Trading him will disappoint some of the young players who look up to him. But the organization has to make the tough call.
Mike Trout’s contract complicates everything. Trout has years left on his massive deal. He is one of the highest-paid players in baseball. Building around him has not worked because the front office has not surrounded him with enough talent. Rebuilding through prospects is really the only path forward for the Angels.
My prediction: The Yankees get Detmers. The package includes Spencer Jones and two other top prospects. New York adds Detmers plus catcher Ryan Jeffers from the Twins. The Yankees make the ALCS. The Angels start their rebuild in earnest. Everyone gets what they need.
Detmers is the type of pitcher who makes a real difference in October. He can start a game. He can pitch in relief. He can eat innings. He can pitch backwards. That kind of versatility wins playoff series, and any contender adding him instantly upgrades.
Watch this space over the next four weeks. Detmers is not going to be an Angel by August 3. The only question is which team pays the biggest price for him. Bidding is going to be fierce.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
