Los Angeles Angels Make Game-Changing Trade for Superstar Pitcher—What It Means for the Playoff Race

Anaheim, Calif. — The Los Angeles Angels entered the weekend with a flurry of roster moves and franchise-shaping decisions on deck, positioning the club for a pivotal second half of the 2025 season. Left-hander Jake Eder was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday and added to the 40-man roster ahead of the three-game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 26-year-old will slot into the Angels’ injury-thinned rotation after posting a 3.38 ERA and four strikeouts over 5⅓ major-league innings earlier this year. Eder’s mid-90s fastball and plus slider give manager Ron Washington a needed power arm as Anaheim pushes to stay afloat in the competitive American League West. While Eder prepares for Saturday’s start at Angel Stadium, the front office is finalizing its strategy for Sunday night’s MLB Draft. For the first time in franchise history, general manager Perry Minasian owns the No. 2 overall pick, part of four selections on Day 1 and a bonus pool north of $16.6 million. Industry insiders believe the Angels are weighing polished college arms such as LSU lefty Kade Anderson and Tennessee southpaw Liam Doyle, but prep standouts Seth Hernandez (Corona HS) and Eli Willits (Fort Cobb-Broxton HS) remain in the mix. With a track record of fast-tracking college players like Zach Neto and Reid Detmers, Anaheim could again prioritize immediate impact, yet the deep bonus pool gives the club flexibility to swing for high-ceiling high-school talent later in the draft. Meanwhile, three-time MVP Mike Trout continues to anchor the lineup, carrying a .286/.384/.532 slash line and ranking top-five in the AL in barrel rate. Rookie second baseman Christian Moore (thumb sprain) is targeting an early-August return, and All-Star closer Carlos Estévez (3.05 ERA, 19 SV) remains a trade-deadline talking point for contenders. The Angels sit 46-45, four games behind the first-place Astros and 1.5 games out of the final AL Wild Card, leaving little margin for error as July heats up. Key dates for Angels fans: • July 11–13: Diamondbacks series at Angel Stadium (Friday fireworks, Saturday Mike Trout bobblehead giveaway) • July 13: MLB Draft Round 1 begins at 3 p.m. PT on MLB Network • July 15–18: All-Star break; Trout in his 13th All-Star Game • July 25: Trade deadline buzz intensifies With a bolstered pitching staff, a top-two draft selection and franchise cornerstone Mike Trout still producing MVP-caliber numbers, the Los Angeles Angels have multiple avenues to shape both their 2025 playoff push and the organization’s long-term trajectory. Keep this page bookmarked for real-time Angels roster updates, draft analysis, injury news and daily game recaps throughout the summer.