6 Angels trade candidates who could flip dugouts during Brewers' series in Los Angeles

With less than three days remaining until the midseason trade deadline, the Milwaukee Brewers find themselves in the middle of a series against the scuffling Los Angeles Angels, who have already begun trading away their valuable assets.

Under the guidance of recently hired interim general manager John Mozeliak, the Angels swung a three-player trade with the Texas Rangers earlier this week -- a deal that many are calling a significant win for the Rangers' front office. Regardless of who won the trade, which won't be known for some time, the deal signaled that the Angels are ready to move their trade candidates and start rebuilding their roster for the future.

Given the Brewers' status as aggressive buyers ahead of this year's trade deadline and their need for reinforcements to their pitching staff, Matt Arnold and company should be taking a close look at the Angels' roster during the team's series in Los Angeles. It's possible that before the end of the weekend, one of the names listed below will take the long walk from the home dugout to the away dugout at Angel Stadium.

6 Angels trade candidates the Brewers should consider adding to their roster before the end of the weekend

1. SP Reid Detmers

Left-handed starter Reid Detmers is one of the best starting pitchers not named Tarik Skubal available at this year's trade deadline. The 27-year-old would be a great back-up option for the Brewers if they ultimately lose the Skubal sweepstakes. However, Detmers, who has two years of team control remaining after the 2026 season, would certainly not come cheap.

In his sixth season in the big leagues, Detmers is putting together his most impressive campaign. The Angels' starter has a 4.03 ERA in 22 starts, with an excellent 28.3% strikeout rate. His 3.35 FIP (fielding independent pitching) indicates that his surface-level numbers would improve with the Brewers' stellar defense behind him, and his 3.38 expected ERA suggests he's been slightly unlucky this year. The 10th overall pick in the 2020 draft, Detmers is just now entering his prime and could be a big part of the Brewers' rotation for the next two and a half seasons, but only if Milwaukee's front office is willing to part ways with the steep prospect price that will be required to land him.

2. SP José Soriano

Brewers fans will soon get a close look at José Soriano, as the right-hander is scheduled to start tonight's game for the Angels while his name continues to circulate in trade rumors. Like Detmers, Soriano has two more years of team control remaining after the 2026 season, meaning his price will be high, but the Brewers could also benefit from his services through the 2028 campaign if they swing a deal for the 27-year-old starter.

Soriano is in the midst of his strongest season in the big leagues, boasting a 3.29 ERA through his first 22 starts of the campaign. With two fastball shapes that each average more than 96 mph, a 31.4% whiff rate that ranks in the 90th percentile of all qualified pitchers, and a 52.3% ground-ball rate that ranks in the 89th percentile, Soriano would be an intriguing addition to the Brewers' rotation if Milwaukee's quest for Skubal falls short. As a bonus, if the Brewers and other teams show enough interest in Soriano before the end of the day, he may be scratched from his Saturday night start, and Milwaukee would be saved from having to face the talented right-hander.

3. RP Sam Bachman

Should the Brewers find a starting pitcher elsewhere, the Angels have a trio of intriguing relief arms worth a closer look. The first is right-hander Sam Bachman, whom the Brewers saw in last night's game. Bachman, who has four years of team control remaining beyond the 2026 campaign, was drafted with the 9th overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, and initially worked as a starting pitcher in the minor leagues before a series of injuries, including thoracic outlet syndrome, led the Angels to convert him to a reliever just before his big-league debut.

Bachman has appeared out of the Angels' bullpen in each of the last three seasons, and while his surface-level numbers won't turn any heads, his underlying metrics suggest improvement is on the horizon. Sporting a 4.17 ERA in 45.1 innings, Bachman entered last night with a 3.48 expected ERA, a whiff rate in the 95th percentile, and a ground-ball rate in the 80th. His sinker averages nearly 99 mph, and he pairs it with a nasty slider which opponents are hitting just .185 against. With plenty of potential and a minor league option remaining, the former first-round pick would be an interesting addition to Milwaukee's pitching staff ahead of the deadline.

4. RP Ryan Zeferjahn

The other intriguing, under-the-radar trade candidate in the Angels' bullpen is right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn, who, like Bachman, is under team control through the 2030 season. Zeferjahn also has more impressive underlying metrics than surface-level numbers, but his 3.78 ERA in 50 innings this year is by no means poor.

Zeferjahn is in his third year in the Angels' bullpen and has maintained a polarizing profile throughout his big league career, but it's reached new heights in 2026. When it comes to expected opponent batting average, Zeferjahn trails only Mason Miller among qualified pitchers. His electric arsenal misses a ton of bats and generates a great deal of strikeouts, as evidenced by whiff and strikeout rates that rank in the 97th and 96th percentile, respectively. However, at the same time, Zeferjahn has a chase rate in the 1st percentile and a 14.4% walk rate that ranks in the 4th percentile. If the Brewers believe they can fix his high walk numbers, Zeferjahn, who comes with three minor league options, could be a huge addition to their relief corps for years to come.

5. RP Kirby Yates

Among the Angels' trio of relief pitcher trade options, right-hander Kirby Yates is the most stereotypical deadline candidate. The 39-year-old veteran reliever has plenty of big-league experience and is on an expiring $5 million contract. He has consistently worked in high-leverage situations throughout his career and 101 career saves to his name.

Yates, however, comes with some serious concerns. For one, the right-hander has dealt with injuries throughout his career and missed the first month of the 2026 season with inflammation in his right knee. Losing a deadline addition to a late-season injury is a tough blow for a contending team, and that possibility is heightened with an aging veteran like Yates. Pair that with the fact that Yates' average fastball velocity now sits just above 90 mph and his splitter has taken a noticeable step back this year, and the veteran right-hander looks like a risky, albeit cheap option for the Brewers at this year's deadline.

6. OF Jo Adell

According to reports, the Brewers' top priority at the trade deadline is adding a reinforcement to their pitching staff, either in the form of a starting pitcher, a relief pitcher, or both. However, that doesn't mean the Brewers' front office won't at least explore the position player market ahead of Monday evening's deadline. If they do swing a deal for a bat ahead of the deadline, they should prioritize one who will improve their offense against left-handed pitchers, as that remains an area where the Brewers struggle.

Outfielder Jo Adell, though it's not obvious exactly how he would fit into the Brewers' roster picture, would certainly improve Milwaukee's lineup against southpaws. Adell, the 10th overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, has a .940 OPS against lefties this year, a shocking statistic given his .690 overall OPS in 2026. Adell, who is under contract through the 2027 season, but is likely to command a sizable salary in arbitration this offseason that the Brewers may steer clear of, would solely play against southpaws if Milwaukee did elect to add him to their roster ahead of this year's deadline. It's unlikely, given the Brewers' emphasis on versatility on their roster, but not improving their offense against lefties could come back to hurt Milwaukee in the postseason.

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