Stan Kroenke's first priority needs to be deciding the future of Zach Neto and Reid Detmers

When Stan Kroenke and Kroenke Sports Entertainment finally take over the Los Angeles Angels, the expectation is that they are going to act like the financial giants of the sport. By net worth, Kroenke will be the richest owner in baseball, and fans believe he will utilize that wealth to bring in superstars.

While that may be the case, Kronke is also known as a hands-off owner. That isn't to say he's aloof and doesn't care, but that he trusts the people he hires to run the team and make smart decisions. That is going to be very helpful for the franchise.  

The Angels are in need of a serious rebuild, and having a smart baseball mind running the front office is the way to go. Baseball isn't just about the players on the major league roster, but also about how well teams draft and develop in the minors. The Angels have struggled at doing that, especially in recent years, but they did hit on a few top-tier talents.

Zach Neto and Reid Detmers have become pillars of this current edition of the Halos. Neto has looked like a star since his call-up. Detmers took a winding path to where he is now, but looks like the ace fans thought he would become. They are both nearing the end of their years of team control. Detmers is a free agent after the 2027 season, and Neto after 2028. One of the first things Kroenke and the new front office will need to decide is whether they want to pay those two to keep them around for a long time, or trade them for future value. The one thing they can't do is let them walk into free agency.

Detmers and Neto are valuable pieces, but not if they walk into free agency

Even with a potential tens of millions to spend under the new ownership group, the Angels are a few seasons away from actually being contenders. It's highly unlikely they are able to turn the franchise around this offseason, especially with how weak the free-agent class is. That means Neto, and especially Detmers, don't fit the timeline of the current team.

This leaves the Angels with two choices: pay them long-term extensions or trade them for a haul of prospects. The Angels should have the money to pay both what they would want to keep them from the open market at this stage in their careers. Unlike young players who get extensions after their first seasons, players closer to free agency expect bigger paydays to keep them from free agency. If the new front office believes in one or both of them, they shouldn't have a problem giving them those extensions.

If the front office decides they aren't worth the money, then the only other option is to trade them as soon as possible. The closer they are to free agency, the less prospect return they will get. The Angels have a chance to use each to acquire one or more top 100 prospects, plus others. That is what a successful front office would do to reset for a rebuild. The one thing they can't do is let them leave in free agency; that would be malpractice.

Deciding the future of Reid Detmers and Zach Neto should be priority No. 1 this offseason. Even with Kroenke not officially in power until spring, they are going to be guiding the offseason. They need to decide before it is too late whether they are building around them for the future or using them to build the next core of the franchise.

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