With the MLB trade deadline still more than seven weeks away, front offices across the league are beginning to assess their needs and evaluate who’s available. The buyer-seller line remains murky for many clubs, but scouts and executives are already paying close attention to players whose recent performances have made them increasingly attractive trade candidates.
Among those under watch are a dozen names drawing heightened interest — including a pair of Los Angeles Angels veterans: left-hander Tyler Anderson and outfielder Taylor Ward. Their MLB trade rumors, however, encapsulate the complicated crossroads the Angels now face.
Angels in Limbo: Buyers, Sellers, or Something In Between?
Sitting well below .500 and double digits out of both the AL West and Wild Card races, the Angels appear, on paper, to be one of the few teams clearly trending toward selling. Injuries have ravaged the roster — Mike Trout has been sidelined since late April, and both Patrick Sandoval and Robert Stephenson underwent season-ending elbow surgeries. Their -78 run differential ranks among the league’s worst, and postseason hopes in Anaheim have all but evaporated.
Still, the Angels have yet to commit to a sell-off. That hesitancy is hardly surprising given owner Arte Moreno’s historical resistance to any full-scale rebuild. Across multiple front office regimes, the organization has persistently chased short-term upgrades — often at the expense of a more strategic long-term vision. Even after losing Shohei Ohtani in free agency, general manager Perry Minasian insisted that the Angels would not enter rebuilding mode.
That tension between results and philosophy is reflected in how the club is approaching its potential trade chips.
Tyler Anderson: A Logical Trade Piece With Caveats
Tyler Anderson is perhaps the Angels’ most obvious MLB trade rumor candidate. The 34-year-old southpaw has pitched to a solid 3.99 ERA over 13 starts and is owed $13 million in the final year of a three-year, $39 million deal. He posted a 2.04 ERA over a six-start stretch from April into mid-May and could stabilize the back end of a contending rotation.
Yet even as speculation builds — one insider said there’s a “good chance” Anderson will be moved — the market around him remains sluggish. The starting pitching landscape has been frozen while teams like the Mariners and Padres consider trading higher-profile arms such as Luis Castillo, Dylan Cease, and Michael King. Until those dominos fall, mid-tier starters like Anderson are effectively on standby.
There are also practical hurdles for the Angels. Anderson’s fastball metrics leave something to be desired (89 Stuff+ on his four-seam, 1st percentile fastball run value in 2023), and the team could simply replace him with younger, more electric arms like José Soriano, Reid Detmers, or Jack Kochanowicz. Still, moving Anderson could bring back useful pieces — or salary relief — especially if the Halos are willing to take on a larger contract in return. Ideal scenarios floated include deals for controllable mid-rotation starters like Pablo López or Sonny Gray, though more modest returns are likely.
Taylor Ward: A Valuable, Yet Complicated, Trade Asset
Taylor Ward, meanwhile, presents a more complicated decision. The 30-year-old outfielder is under team control through 2026 and has been a key contributor to the offense. After a sluggish start (.594 OPS through mid-May), he has caught fire — slugging .942 with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs in his last 27 games.
Ward’s value is real, but so is his potential utility to a retooling Angels roster. Reports suggest the team has received trade interest but remains hesitant to part with controllable big leaguers like Ward, Anderson, or Griffin Canning. Given their limited outfield depth and struggles to find replacements in the market, moving Ward might signal a more serious rebuild than the front office is willing to admit.
MLB Trade Rumors: Relievers Drawing Heavy Interest
While decisions on Anderson and Ward are still in flux, the bullpen is one area where the Angels seem more willing to deal. Multiple rental relievers are drawing attention, particularly closer Carlos Estévez, who has been outstanding in 2024. The 31-year-old boasts a 2.89 ERA, 26.9% strikeout rate, and career-best 3.8% walk rate while averaging nearly 97 mph on his fastball. Named AL Reliever of the Month in June, Estévez has converted 16 saves this year and looks poised to anchor a playoff bullpen elsewhere.
Also on the radar is veteran right-hander Luis García, who’s worked to a 4.25 ERA in 36 innings with a solid K/BB ratio and a 96.4 mph sinker. Though no longer touching the upper 90s as he did in San Diego, his ground ball-heavy profile makes him an appealing middle-relief option.
Hunter Strickland, too, is trending up. The 35-year-old has allowed just one hit in his past 9 2/3 scoreless innings, with 10 strikeouts and three walks. His full-season line includes a 3.60 ERA and sub-1.00 HR/9, numbers that suggest he could be a low-cost option for teams seeking bullpen depth.
Other Rentals and Roster Decisions
Beyond Estévez and García, other expiring contracts may not yield much return. Matt Moore, Adam Cimber, and Jose Cisnero have all struggled and/or landed on the IL. Brandon Drury (.172/.240/.227) has played his way off trade boards entirely. Miguel Sanó, attempting a comeback, has posted a .205 average with a near-38% strikeout rate and minimal power.
In contrast, Kevin Pillar has been a revelation since joining the Angels. The 35-year-old has a .305/.360/.516 slash with six home runs and five stolen bases in just 139 plate appearances. With retirement looming, Pillar may welcome a trade to a contender for one last postseason run.
A Pivotal Summer in Anaheim
The Angels face a critical juncture. Despite a clear need to shift direction, their actions — or lack thereof — will be shaped by both market dynamics and internal philosophy. If they move Anderson or Ward, it will signal at least some willingness to embrace a new phase. If they stand pat, they may once again miss the opportunity to reset, even as the franchise’s playoff drought enters its second decade.
Either way, with offers already coming in and player values fluctuating by the week, the Halos will soon be forced to tip their hand. Whether they finally follow logic or double down on past patterns remains to be seen.