Should Extending Reid Detmers Be the Angels' Next Move?

The Angels' trade deadline decisions may have revealed just how important Reid Detmers is to the organization's future.

Aug 5, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Los Angeles Angels pitcher Reid Detmers (48) throws during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Angels made several franchise altering decisions at this year's trade deadline, parting ways with players like José Soriano, Jo Adell, and Logan O'Hoppe as they continued reshaping the roster for the future. One notable name, however, remained in Anaheim, Reid Detmers. While plenty of attention was focused on the players who were traded, the decision to keep Detmers may have been just as significant. If the Angels truly view the former first round pick as a key piece of their next competitive team, the next logical step could be discussing a long-term extension.

Detmers Is Starting to Look the Part

One of the biggest reasons the Angels should consider extending Reid Detmers is the way he has pitched over the last several months. His latest outing against the Rangers was another encouraging step in that direction. Detmers kept the Angels in the game by allowing just one run on three hits across six innings while striking out six batters. Although he issued four walks, he consistently worked out of trouble and gave Los Angeles every opportunity to win. It was an impressive bounce back performance after lasting just four innings against the Orioles in his previous start. More importantly, outings like this continue to show flashes of the pitcher many expected Detmers to become when he was selected in the first round. While there is still room for improvement, he appears to be putting everything together and developing into a reliable piece of the Angels' future rotation.

Jul 22, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels pitcher Reid Detmers (48) looks on during the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Angels Have Already Shown Their Belief

The trade deadline may have revealed just how highly the Angels think of Reid Detmers. By moving José Soriano while keeping Detmers in the organization, the front office sent a clear message about who it believes can be part of the club's long-term plans. That doesn't necessarily mean the Angels expect Detmers to become a Cy Young contender overnight, but it does suggest they view him as a pitcher capable of taking on a much larger role in the rotation. With Soriano no longer in Anaheim, there is an opportunity for Detmers to emerge as one of the leaders of the pitching staff. If the Angels truly believe he can be a cornerstone of their next upcoming team, extending him sooner rather than later would reinforce that belief and provide the organization with another key piece to build around.

Jun 27, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels pitcher Reid Detmers (48) delivers during the third inning against the Athletics at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Angels made it clear at the trade deadline that they're looking toward the future, and Reid Detmers appears to be a big part of those plans. While there's always some risk in committing to a pitcher long term, Detmers has shown steady growth and is beginning to resemble the frontline starter many envisioned when he was drafted. If he continues pitching the way he has over the past few months, the Angels shouldn't wait too long to start extension talks. Locking up a young, homegrown left-hander could be another important step in building the next era of Angels baseball.