The Los Angeles Angels might have entered the 2025 season with hopes of ending their playoff drought since 2014, but as MLB’s July 31 trade deadline approaches, the Halos’ season has been derailed by inconsistency and injuries.
They now sit at 33-36, three games under .500 and 6.5 games behind the American League West-leading Houston Astros. With their playoff future looking bleak, speculation has started to arise around their strategy at the deadline.
Will the Angels Sell at the MLB Trade Deadline?
The Angels’ season is not yet over, but it feels more likely that they will end toward the bottom of the division than make their way to the postseason. They must quickly decide whether they want to push for October or reposition for the future.
Their on-field results haven’t helped. The team ranks near the bottom of MLB in both offensive and pitching metrics. The offense is built around streaky power hitters, and the pitching staff lacks depth and control.
The Angels rank 27th among all MLB teams in batting average (.227), 29th in on-base percentage (.289), and 10th in slugging (.403). Their offense scores in bursts and lacks consistent production.
Meanwhile, their pitching staff lacks control and command over the mound. The Angels are 29th in WHIP (1.49), 25th in team ERA (4.75), while being among the bottom teams for runs allowed (343).
According to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, the Angels aren’t sellers yet, but that could change by late July. “If that happens, they’ll have two power bats they could offer in DH Jorge Soler and LF Taylor Ward, along with starting pitcher Tyler Anderson and closer Kenley Jansen,” Bowden wrote.
Soler was a World Series MVP with the Atlanta Braves in 2021. Despite a struggling year, hitting at a .217 batting average, he is a proven player with postseason experience.
While another reunion with the Braves is unlikely, their National League East rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies, could see him as an option. The team is built for a World Series run and is running out of time, so they need an experienced outfielder with reliable offensive production. Soler is currently in the middle of a three-year deal worth $16 million per year through 2026.
Ward is on a one-year, $7.825 million deal with arbitration eligibility in 2026. The left fielder has been a regular offensive threat for the Angels and is currently on a hot streak, hitting 18 homers, 47 RBIs, and a .748 OPS this season. The Phillies, along with the Kansas City Royals, who reportedly pursued him in spring training, are potential suitors.
Taylor Ward gets the @Angels on the board with his 15th home run of the year! pic.twitter.com/1QUmOiITLr
— MLB (@MLB) May 24, 2025
Anderson, a starting pitcher and veteran lefty, could be a valuable trading chip for the Angels. The 35-year-old is in the final year of his three-year, $39 million contract and currently boasts a solid 3.99 ERA over 70 innings pitched. The Athletic identified him as a potential target for the Toronto Blue Jays.
“The Blue Jays have made acquiring a starting pitcher their priority at this trade deadline,” Bowden said. “They match up well with the Diamondbacks for one of their impending free-agent starters, [Zac] Gallen or [Merrill] Kelly, if Arizona decides to sell, or perhaps with the Angels for Anderson.”
Jansen, the veteran closer, is on an expiring one-year, $10 million contract. He will likely be pursued by teams with shaky bullpens, such as the Phillies, New York Mets, or even a possible reunion with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Angels have not traditionally been sellers at the trade deadline. Instead, they’ve tried to patch holes with short-term additions around star Mike Trout, rather than go for a proper rebuild. If they continue with that approach, they’ll hope to find the right combination without wasting another year.
The next six weeks could be crucial for that reason, with face-offs against playoff contenders such as the Astros, Braves, Blue Jays, and Seattle Mariners. Their postseason hopes hang by a thread.
If L.A. continues to struggle with consistency before the deadline, they could be forced to adopt a new approach and become sellers in 2025.