Reds could strike gold if Angels trigger trade deadline fire sale

With the MLB trade deadline fast approaching, the Cincinnati Reds are in a prime position to capitalize if they choose to play their cards right. While much of the market chatter centers on the usual suspects, the Reds should be watching the Los Angeles Angels closely.

Sitting fourth in the AL West and hovering just under the .500 mark, the Angels are caught in the middle of a long-overdue rebuild. Should they pull the plug and commit to selling, the Reds could inquire about a pair of impactful upgrades.

Two names from Anaheim stand out: outfielder Taylor Ward and left-handed reliever Reid Detmers. Both players offer an immediate impact and roster flexibility that could push Cincinnati closer to serious Wild Card contention.

Underrated Angels pair could be deadline steals for the Reds

Taylor Ward is putting together a quietly excellent season that deserves far more attention. He’s batting .231 with 23 home runs, 76 RBI, and a .793 OPS across 381 at-bats. An OPS+ of 115 indicates he’s 15 percent better than league average. His .305 on-base percentage doesn’t jump off the page, but Ward has made up for it with run production and game-changing power, especially in high-leverage moments.

In May alone, Ward slugged his way to a .407 average with a 1.382 OPS over a torrid one-week stretch, even earning AL Player of the Week honors. Advanced metrics back up the performance: his .337 wOBA, .336 xwOBA, 14 percent barrel rate, and 90.3 mph average exit velocity all suggest his production is no fluke. 

Then there’s Reid Detmers, a former first-round pick who has reinvented himself in 2025 as a power bullpen arm. Detmers has made 42 appearances out of the bullpen this season, logging 45⅓ innings with 55 strikeouts and a 4.17 ERA. 

He boasts a 10.9 K/9 and a FIP near 3.24, well below his ERA — pointing to some bad luck and possibly some defensive lapses behind him. With a 28.5% strikeout rate and three years of team control remaining, Detmers is exactly the kind of bullpen arm that could give Cincinnati a lift down the stretch.

Unsurprisingly, the St. Louis Cardinals and several other contenders have already sniffed around Detmers, recognizing his strikeout profile and affordable control. If the Reds want to make a push without paying premium prices for a top closer or a blockbuster bat, this could be their window to act fast and smart.

Ward and Detmers won’t cost a king’s ransom, especially if the Angels are motivated to sell and retool. But they do bring real, tangible upgrades in areas where Cincinnati needs help the most.

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