The Los Angeles Angels reportedly had a legitimate opportunity to trade Reid Detmers at the deadline, but they ultimately turned it down. That decision shouldn’t be interpreted as the Angels being inactive or unwilling to make moves. They were aggressive elsewhere, trading José Soriano for a package headlined by Arjun Nimmala, a consensus top-50 prospect. However, the Angels believed Detmers was worth even more and refused to settle for anything less.
The Cubs reportedly offered a three-prospect package led by Jefferson Rojas, but that proposal apparently didn’t meet Los Angeles’ asking price. Detmers had interest from at least four clubs and was viewed as one of the most appealing players available before the deadline. Still, the Angels had no reason to move him simply for the sake of making a deal. Now, just a couple of weeks later, their decision to wait appears to be paying off.
Detmers Is Making the Angels Look Smart
Chicago’s proposal was headlined by Rojas, one of the Cubs’ top prospects, but it reportedly fell short of the return the Angels expected. The package was also less impressive than what the Dodgers surrendered for Tarik Skubal. While Detmers’ additional years of team control make the comparison more complicated, Los Angeles had little reason to accept a discount.
Soriano’s trade provides another useful comparison. If the Angels believed Soriano was worth Nimmala and additional pieces, Detmers—who had two more years of control—was unlikely to be moved for less. There were also fewer concerns about selling Detmers at his current value given his ability to miss bats and pitch deep into games.
Detmers’ first outing after the deadline briefly made the Angels look as though they had made the wrong call. He surrendered three runs on four hits and lasted only four innings. It was possible the trade rumors had affected him, but regardless, the performance gave critics reason to question the decision.
Since then, however, Detmers has provided a very different answer.
Five days after struggling against Baltimore, the left-hander allowed only one run on three hits across six innings against Texas. Five days later, he was even better against Kansas City, limiting the Royals to two hits over eight dominant innings. He struck out 11, issued no walks and needed just 92 pitches to complete the outing.
The performance was particularly notable because it marked his first home victory in 22 starts. More importantly, it wasn’t an isolated performance. Detmers has continued the strong pitching he displayed before the deadline. Since the All-Star break, he owns a 1.83 ERA across six starts and 34.1 innings.
The Angels certainly weren’t afraid to make moves at the deadline. They traded away Logan O’Hoppe, Soriano, Chase Silseth, Jo Adell and Ryan Zeferjahn. Their willingness to move significant pieces while refusing to budge on Detmers says plenty about how highly the organization values him.
That could make him an important piece of the Angels’ future.
There is, however, another side to the argument. Los Angeles is still rebuilding, and some could question whether a 27-year-old left-hander who is emerging as one of baseball’s better strikeout pitchers fits the timeline. If Detmers continues pitching at this level, though, the Angels could have a much stronger market for him during the offseason.
The Cubs, White Sox, Rays and Brewers were among the teams showing interest before the deadline. Those conversations don’t necessarily end simply because the trade deadline has passed. In fact, Detmers’ recent dominance could make those discussions even more serious this winter.
Waiting does come with a cost. A team that acquired Detmers at the deadline would have controlled him for the remainder of this season plus two more years, giving a contender three postseason opportunities. An offseason trade would provide only two seasons of control. That difference could reduce what teams are ultimately willing to surrender.
Still, if Detmers continues missing bats and consistently working deep into games, the Angels will have plenty of leverage. Every team that passed on him in July could be reminded this winter that acquiring him will require a significant investment.
Ultimately, keeping Detmers at the deadline wasn’t necessarily about declaring him untouchable or guaranteeing he would remain part of the next Angels contender. It was about refusing to trade him for less than what the organization believes he is worth. If his recent performances continue, that gamble could prove to be a very profitable one.
