Cubs Rumors: Fast-rising prospect could headline trade with Angels

Even as a Chicago Cubs fan and someone who cares very little for the Angels (apart from the fact Scott Spiezio was a local hero where I grew up when he won the World Series with the team in 2002), I find them fascinating as we near the 2026 MLB trade deadline.

Longtime Cardinals executive John Mozeliak is calling the shots for the Halos the rest of the season - and, assuming he can hold owner Arte Moreno at arm's length and keep him from torpedoing any moves, could drastically reshape a directionless organization with some bold (and likely unpopular) trades.

Heavy trade rumors continue to surround a pair of Los Angeles starting pitchers in Jose Soriano and Reid Detmers. The latter will be a free agent at season's end - so the cost shouldn't be anything too crazy, but given the premium placed on pitching at the deadline, he'll command a solid return. For Soriano, though, who isn't a free agent until after the 2028 season and entered the weekend with a 3.43 ERA in 21 starts.

So what are the Angels heading into the deadline looking for? A young catcher and, to a lesser degree, middle infield help. If we're going through the thought exercise pairing the Cubs and Angels up in a hypothetical trade, there's a decent match on paper - but one name that could be of particular interest to Mozeliak is Owen Ayers, one of the fastest-rising prospects in the organization.

Cubs catching prospect Owen Ayers may have John Mozeliak's eye

Ayers, who was recently promoted to Iowa, has put up a .315/.428/.616 slash line across High-A, Double-A and Triple-A this season and is seemingly knocking on the door of the big leagues. He's rocketing up rankings lists and could be inside the top-100 by season's end if he stays hot. With Carson Kelly set to hit free agency at season's end and some questions around Miguel Amaya, there's clear long-term value in the Cubs holding onto Ayers.

Catcher can be a difficult position to solve for teams - so it makes sense why the Angels are looking for a long-term solution there. And, as much as it pains me to say, if that's the price to lock down a high-upside, controllable starter, Jed Hoyer shouldn't blink. This Cubs team needs legitimate pitching reinforcements and the front office needs to be willing to step up to make the moves that can get this club over the hump.

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