The MLB trade deadline is rapidly approaching, and Angels interim general manager John Mozeliak is ready for it — just not now.
As Mozeliak appeared on MLB Network Radio on Sunday afternoon, he said the Angels aren’t too focused on the trade deadline and are more focused on the MLB draft.
“I have not had any real substantial conversations with clubs … other than what they might be looking for, no names have been exchanged. Nothing like that,” Mozeliak said. “Most of the general managers that have reached out to me over the last week it’s mostly been via text.”
While Mozeliak said no names have been exchanged, he said once the draft concludes, he expects to hear more from fellow GMs about potential trades.
“In that time we’ll also have a better understanding of where we are, of how we think of this roster and what the market may bear for that,” Mozeliak said. “Because I think that’s the most important part. Obviously, anybody can trade anyone, but it doesn’t really make sense if it’s something that’s not going to have long-term value or change some internal dynamic.”
The Angels are one of MLB’s most intriguing teams at the deadline because they have multiple players they could sell, including Jose Soriano, Reid Detmers and Jo Adell.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic recently said the Angels have enough power to control the MLB trade deadline.
In the past, the Angels have been reluctant to be sellers when the deadline approached because they have held on to prospects for far too long, including in 2023 when former GM Perry Minasian had the chance to trade Shohei Ohtani before he signed with the Dodgers in the offseason.
Of course, owner Arte Moreno got in the way of the Angels dealing Ohtani, despite multiple teams having interest in him.
With Mozeliak now taking over as interim GM, he’s been vocal about the Angels needing to change the way they operate.
“My overall take right now is this club is not where we need it to be. We’re not winning baseball games; we’re finding ways to lose instead of win. That can be frustrating for our fans. It can be frustrating for the people that are here every day and for the players,” Mozeliak said. “So we know something has to be done differently.”
