The Toronto Blue Jays have their eyes fully set on the 2027 season. They agreed to a deal with the Los Angeles Angels that will land them Jose Soriano. Heading back to Anaheim are Arjun Nimmala, Eddie Micheletti, and Angel Rivero. This is a massive deal for both sides. It was not a guarantee that the Angels would move Soriano. So the fact they did it fully cements them as a seller at the deadline. Here is how this deal impacts both clubs.
Making Sense of the Jose Soriano Deal
The Blue Jays Perspective
This is not the first time the Jays have made a deal like this. Back at the 2021 trade deadline, they landed Jose Berrios when he still had a year left of club control. They ended up signing him to an extension, but they have proven they are not afraid to trade for starters with control. Soriano is in the same exact situation as Berrios was. He has one more year of club control following this season. This is not a trade for this season, but for next year. They view Soriano as someone who can be one of the headliners of their rotation.
Soriano is having one of the best seasons of his career. In 123 innings, he has pitched to a 3.29 ERA with 127 strikeouts to 57 walks, a 1.252 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 124. These stats are more in line with how he performed during the 2024 season. It’s a sign that the struggles he faced last season were an outlier and this is the type of production we should expect. Sure, it’s not the numbers of an ace, but it’s fine for a number two or mid-rotation starter. Having a reliable arm like this is huge for a team’s success.
The Angels Perspective
While the O’Hoppe/Silseth trade signaled the Angels were open for business, this deal solidified it. For weeks, it did not seem like the Angels were willing to move Soriano. But moving a player who had another year of control shows that the Angels are ready to do a proper rebuild. They are not going to continue these half measures and hurt the future of the team for rentals that do not work. There is going to be a focus on the future and an investment in the farm system. It is something the Angels have needed to do for years now.
The highlight of this deal is shortstop prospect Nimmala. He is the 43rd overall prospect in baseball and is now the second-best prospect in the Angels system according to MLB Pipeline. What has everyone so excited his ability to crush the baseball. He has an uppercut swing and put on 20 pounds of muscle that gives him plenty of pop. Micheletti has a ton of versatility, being able to play all over the outfield, as well as first base. He had a solid season in Double-A, posting a .801 OPS and 14 home runs. Rivero is still in the complex league and is seen as a lottery ticket.
