Reid Detmers hasn’t had the 2024 season he hoped for, having been pitching for the Salt Lake Bees since the Angels sent him to Triple-A in June. Despite this, Jeff Passan of ESPN reports that numerous teams are showing trade interest in him. Detmers, since his debut in 2021, has made 70 MLB starts with a 4.68 ERA, 4.17 SIERA, and 5.4 Wins Above Replacement, according to FanGraphs. He solidified his position in the Angels’ rotation by the end of the 2022 season with a 3.77 ERA and 4.12 SIERA in 25 starts, including pitching a no-hitter and an immaculate inning.
Detmers started 2024 strongly, going 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA in his first four outings, but his performance declined significantly over his next eight starts, giving up 41 runs (40 earned) in 40 1/3 innings. His strikeout rate dropped from 34.9 percent in his first four starts to 20.9 percent in the next eight, and he allowed 10 home runs after not allowing any in the initial four games. Although he wasn’t allowing more hard contact, his average launch angle increased by nearly 5 degrees, causing his barrel rate to double. His 4.62 SIERA in that period wasn’t terrible, but something was clearly off with the 25-year-old pitcher.
It was somewhat surprising for the Angels, a team with limited pitching depth, to demote Detmers after eight poor starts. However, the last time they sent him to Triple-A in June 2022, he returned shortly after and excelled with a 3.04 ERA and 3.70 SIERA in 13 starts. Perhaps the Angels hoped another stint in Triple-A would help him recover. Angels manager Ron Washington mentioned that he didn’t expect the move to be permanent.
Unfortunately, Detmers has struggled in Salt Lake, posting a 7.11 ERA and 6.04 FIP in seven starts (38 IP), giving up 11 home runs. Even discounting his two worst outings, his 4.94 ERA and 4.11 FIP at Triple-A are concerning for a pitcher expected to be above average in the majors.
Despite these struggles, multiple teams are interested in Detmers as a reclamation project. Considering he’s just 25 and under team control through 2027, the Angels would only trade him if they have lost confidence in him or receive an offer too good to pass up.
