Angels may benefit most from Tarik Skubal's free agency without landing him

The dream for the Los Angeles Angels would be landing Tarik Skubal in free agency. He'd immediately become one of the best starting pitchers in franchise history, and signing him would be a legitimate sign that times have changed and that the club is ready to take center stage again after such a long hibernation.

If we're being honest, though, it's still a long shot that the two-time Cy Young winner ends up in Anaheim. The Angels still have to find a general manager and a new skipper, and the deal that gives Stan Kroenke full control of the team isn't expected to close until early 2027. Throw in the complications the looming lockout presents, and there are likely too many moving parts for such a splash to come to fruition.

There's also a question of which direction the team will take. While there's a chance that the Halos load up in hopes of contending, there's also a chance that they take a step back in order to set up a more organic build.

The club could opt to trade Reid Detmers and Zach Neto, returning an embarrassment of riches to pair with Arjun Nimmala, Tyler Bremner, and the other glittery prospects that have become a critical part of the farm system's resurgence.

If they go that route, they certainly won't land Skubal, but they could still benefit greatly from the ace left-hander signing elsewhere.

The Angels could use Reid Detmers to capitalize on the Tarik Skubal bidding war

Once again, Detmers is considered one of the most valuable, if not the most valuable, trade chip on the market. The thought was the same at the trade deadline, when some even believed that Detmers could've yielded a greater return than Skubal.

All of the big-market suspects are expected to chase Skubal this winter, but only one can win. For some clubs, he'd be an expensive luxury, but for most of his suitors, they're going to line up to pay him big money because he fits a real need.

The losers, especially those who prefer a left-handed solution, might not find a better fallback option on the free-agent market than what Detmers can provide. The 27-year-old was fantastic all year, but the first half of the season was mostly him suffering through some bad luck that made his production not completely align with his peripherals. With a 1.89 ERA over 76 1/3 second-half innings, not only did his luck turn around, but Detmers established himself as one of the game's best aces.

Yet again, he might be seen as a more valuable asset than Skubal. Detmers is projected to make just $7.5 million in 2027 and won't hit free agency until after the 2028 campaign. Trading for him, even if it requires clearing out the top end of a farm system, could be more palatable than committing massive dollars over a long-term contract that is surely to be underwater at the back end.

That affordability also opens the door to other suitors who won't be in Skubal's market. For example, the Tampa Bay Rays were one of the teams rumored to be interested in trading for Skubal at the deadline, but they don't have the financial might to sign him in free agency. The Rays picked up the $20 million option for their own ace, Drew Rasmussen, but there's some speculation that they'll turn around and trade him because of that cost. If that were to happen, they'd need a cheaper replacement ace.

Of course, that's just one example. There are other teams that don't have Skubal money but would love to have a similarly talented hurler atop their rotation. All in all, between big markets and small ones, the Angels can leverage Skubal to extract maximum value in a Reid Detmers trade if that's truly the route they choose to take.

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