Industry Insiders Slam Angels' Trade of Silseth and O'Hoppe
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Former executives and analysts label the deal with the Texas Rangers as one of the worst of the 2026 deadline.
Under interim general manager John Mozeliak, the Los Angeles Angels executed a franchise-altering roster fire sale during the 2026 MLB trade deadline, as Sports Illustrated first reported. While some moves—such as trading José Soriano to Toronto for prospect Arjun Nimmala and acquiring Moises Ballesteros—received industry praise, a specific deal with the Texas Rangers has drawn universal condemnation.
Five days before the deadline, Mozeliak traded pitcher Chase Silseth and catcher Logan O'Hoppe to the Rangers in exchange for 19-year-old Angel Arredondo. Sports Illustrated reports that Silseth held significant trade value as a relief pitcher under team control through 2030. Conversely, O'Hoppe was struggling at the plate and playing poor defense, making him a candidate for designation for assignment.
Former MLB general manager Jim Bowden, writing for The Athletic, explicitly labeled the transaction among the worst of the entire deadline cycle. Bowden noted that most major league organizations viewed Arredondo as a depth organizational player or a fringe prospect, making the return for Silseth shockingly light.
Analysis indicates the Rangers used O'Hoppe to reduce the talent they had to send back to Los Angeles, as O'Hoppe was immediately assigned to their AAA team. Furthermore, the Rangers only absorbed approximately $824,000 of O'Hoppe's $2.625 million salary, meaning the financial savings for the Angels were minimal.