Why a Zach Neto trade by Angels could be a bad sign for 2027 season

For the first time in a very long time, there is some optimism about the future of the Los Angeles Angels. It's all thanks to Arte Moreno selling the team and John Mozeliak selling off a few of their controllable pieces at the trade deadline.

Looking ahead to the 2026-2027 MLB offseason, the Angels could be looking to make even more trades, with Zach Neto's name likely one of the top ones to watch.

However, if the Angels trade Neto, it could be a sign of bad things to come in 2026. As MLB.com's Mark Feinsand highlighted in a hypothetical Neto trade, it could come in the wake of a new general manager eyeing a complete teardown.

Why a Zach Neto trade could lead to a roster teardown

"With three more years of arbitration eligibility remaining, Neto would be the Angels' most attractive trade chip if the new general manager - whoever that may be - wants to tear the roster down and start their own rebuild," Feinsand writes.

This Angels team isn't good right now; there's no denying that. Mike Trout is nearing the end of his career, and the depth of this roster is bleak.

However, if the Angels were to enter a complete roster teardown and rebuild, it would make the 2027 season, and maybe a few more years afterwards, into majorly disappointing seasons.

The Angels have been stuck in mediocrity at best for a while now, and getting back to an above .500 record as soon as possible is ideal.

Trading Neto would land a haul and help the team in the long-term, but it would set them back for the next couple of seasons at the big-league level.

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Essentially, it'd all but guarantee that Trout won't return to the playoffs unless the Angels were to trade him elsewhere. He has been linked to the Philadelphia Phillies plenty during his career, but he has shown no intention of asking for a trade.

Even if it's not the most productive endeavor, the Angels should try to compete with Trout's last remaining seasons on the roster.

Neto is a key player in such a plan, and trading him away would likely end any chance this team has at competing for the next few seasons, which are likely to be Trout's last years as a productive ballplayer.

Sure, the Angels might be looking to rebuild this team with a new owner and new general manager. But selling Neto and beginning a major roster teardown would be a huge disappointment for Trout and the Angels for the next few seasons.

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