TL;DR
The Los Angeles Angels may consider trading ace pitcher Jose Soriano, who leads MLB with a 0.33 ERA and 31 strikeouts. With two years of club control remaining, the Angels could maximize his trade value as they struggle to make the playoffs.
Orioles-Angels trade idea gives MLB's 0.33 ERA leader a 'fresh start' in Baltimore originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Angels have missed the postseason in 12 consecutive years and may not have enough talent on the roster to break that streak this season.
However, the ace of their starting rotation has delivered four excellent outings and leads the Majors with a 0.33 ERA and 31 strikeouts.
Now more than ever, right-hander Jose Soriano's trade value could skyrocket in the coming months. FanSided's Christopher Kline is not sold on the Angels making a run to the playoffs in 2026, and believes the AL West club should get the most bang for their buck.
"With two additional years of club control left, the Angels needn't rush into a Soriano trade. That said, it doesn't take an expert forecaster to realize Los Angeles will not compete this season ā or realistically, before Soriano becomes a free agent in 2028," Kline wrote Tuesday. "This team is stuck with a middling farm system and a front office too cheap to compete in the current free agent marketplace. The best way to restore their asset pool might be to cash in on Soriano at the absolute peak of his value."
In a competitive AL East, starting pitching depth will be key to contend. Kline notes the Baltimore Orioles as a suitable fit for Soriano.
More:Ā Mets didnāt want to trade Brett Baty while White Sox didnāt want Mark Vientos in Luis Robert Jr. trade
"If the Angels do float Soriano to prospective suitors before the deadline, we all know the Orioles could use a shutdown ace to headline the rotation," he added. "Baltimore added a couple high-impact bats this winter, but a rotation with Soriano, Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish and Shane Baz starts to feel like a staff that can actually support a deep postseason run."
Soriano is due for regression, but the Orioles or a team in a similar position should already be making calls to the Angels.
More MLB news: