Angels Trade Jose Soriano to American League Rivals

Another trade deadline domino falls

Angels pitcher Jose Soriano (59) watches from the dugout during the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Angel Stadium on Aug. 1, 2026. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Angels bit the bullet.

Pitcher Jose Soriano, whose early season breakout made him one of the most desirable pitchers in trade talks leading up Monday's deadline, has been traded to the Toronto Blue Jays according to multiple reports. Jeff Passan of ESPN.com was first to report the deal.

OFFICIAL: The Angels have acquired minor league SS Arjun Nimmala, OF Eddie Micheletti Jr., and RHP Angel Rivero from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for RHP José Soriano. pic.twitter.com/1ZiK9KxcH4

— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) August 3, 2026

Arjun Nimmala, outfielder Eddie Micheletti Jr. and right-hander Angel Rivero will go to Anaheim in the deal.

The trade not only ends Soriano's time in Anaheim following a strong four-year run, it firmly places the Angels in the "seller" category ahead of the 3 p.m. PT trade deadline. The team has been hesitant to engage in any kind of a rebuild under owner Arte Moreno in years past.

With interim GM John Mozeliak in charge, the Angels appear ready to tear it down.

Who did the Angels receive in the Jose Soriano trade?

Nimmala, 20, is a consensus Top-100 prospect who reached Double-A for the first time this season. In 33 games with the New Hampshire FisherCats, Nimmala is slashing .279/.355/.451. He was the 20th overall pick in the 2023 draft.

Nimmala reached base safely in 27 of 33 games with the Fisher Cats this season and batted .417 (10/24) with a 1.295 OPS against left-handed pitching. On the season, Nimmala owns a .946 fielding percentage across 403.1 innings at shortstop across all levels.

Micheletti, 24, played mostly right field for New Hampshire and slashed .251/.347/.454 in 93 games. He ranks tied for second in the Eastern League in triples, tied for seventh in runs (60) and extra-base hits (38) and 10th in total bases (157).

Micheletti has struck out in just 17.5% of his plate appearances this season, the ninth-best rate in the Eastern League. A Wilmington, Delaware native, Micheletti was selected by Toronto in the eighth round of the 2024 Draft out of Virginia Tech.

Rivero, 19, made 12 appearances (nine starts) with the FCL Blue Jays this season, going 0-1 with a 2.36 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 42 innings. Rivero led the FCL Blue Jays in strikeouts, games started, and innings pitched in 2026, and his 52 strikeouts tied for fifth-most across the Florida Complex League.

Rivero ended the FCL season with a 17.2 IP scoreless streak, including the postseason. The right-hander was ranked by Baseball America as one of the top 20 prospects in the FCL at the conclusion of the 2026 season.

A native of Cumana, Venezuela, Rivero began his professional career with the DSL Blue Jays after being signed by Toronto as an international free agent Jan. 15, 2024.