Entering the trade deadline, some evaluators viewed Reid Detmers as an even more attractive trade asset than reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. That comparison may have been debatable, but the Los Angeles Angels had little reason to rush into moving their 27-year-old left-hander. The biggest reason his value was so high was also the reason they could afford to wait: Detmers remains under team control through two additional seasons beyond 2026.
While some questioned whether the Angels missed their best opportunity to maximize his value — especially with possible uncertainty surrounding the future labor market — their overall deadline approach was still viewed as a strong step forward.
Los Angeles added significant young talent to its organization, giving the franchise something it has lacked for years: genuine optimism about the future. There is still plenty of rebuilding left to do, but the progress made through the draft and trade deadline has given the Angels a clearer path forward.
The team could still revisit a Detmers trade in the future. A deal could happen during the offseason, next year’s deadline, or even before the 2028 deadline. But after choosing to keep him, the Angels may need to consider an entirely different option — locking him up long term.
Angels should seriously consider extending Reid Detmers after keeping him at deadline
Detmers’ season did not start the way he wanted. Through the first two months, he posted a disappointing 4.63 ERA, but the underlying numbers suggested he was much better than the results showed. His 2.97 FIP and 3.05 expected ERA indicated that poor luck played a major role in his early struggles.
Since June 1, however, the left-hander has turned things around dramatically. He owns a 3.00 ERA during that stretch while striking out 29.2% of hitters and limiting walks with an impressive 7.2% rate.
The production is finally beginning to match the talent scouts believed was always there. After years of inconsistency, Detmers appears to be putting everything together and showing the ability to develop into a legitimate top-of-the-rotation starter.
For an Angels organization that has struggled for years to develop pitching, moving on from one of its first homegrown starters to truly break through would have been a difficult decision.
The good news is Detmers may not have to carry the future rotation alone.
Young arms like Walbert Urena have started to emerge as promising pieces, while George Klassen could provide another boost if he finishes the season strong. Ryan Johnson remains another intriguing option despite a rocky developmental path so far, and at just 24 years old, he still has time to become a valuable contributor under the new coaching staff.
Meanwhile, top prospect Tyler Bremner continues developing in the minor leagues and could eventually become another important part of the rotation.
For the first time in years, the Angels appear to have the foundation of a promising pitching staff.
However, there is one major issue: Detmers’ timeline does not perfectly align with the rest of the young pitchers.
By the time some of those prospects are ready to establish themselves in the majors, Detmers could already be approaching free agency or moving toward the end of his Angels tenure.
That creates a difficult decision. Trading him could bring back valuable prospects and accelerate the rebuild, but keeping him could provide something equally important — stability.
An extension would give the younger pitchers a proven veteran teammate who understands the challenges of developing within the Angels’ system. More importantly, it could give Los Angeles the cornerstone piece needed to build a complete rotation.
Owner Arte Moreno has historically been hesitant to invest heavily in free-agent starting pitchers after disappointing experiences with previous signings such as C.J. Wilson and Matt Harvey. Eventually, though, the Angels will need an experienced leader for their young arms.
Instead of searching for one elsewhere, they may already have him in Detmers.
Extending him could become the ideal outcome after deciding not to trade him when his market value was at its highest. The Angels need a foundation to build around, and Reid Detmers may be the player who finally gives them one.