Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto has spent the past week reminding the rest of baseball why he remains one of the more intriguing young shortstops in the game.
The 25-year-old Angels infielder earned American League Player of the Week honors after going 14-for-28 with extra-base power and nine RBIs, pushing him toward a third consecutive 20-homer, 20-steal season.
With the Angels headed for another losing year and no postseason appearance since 2014, the offseason conversation around whether to keep Neto as a rebuild cornerstone or deal him for a haul of younger talent is only going to grow louder.
John Perrotto of FanSided noted that the Los Angeles Dodgers must be considered anytime a star-caliber player like Neto becomes available, pointing to the defending champions’ organizational depth and the possibility of a package built around Double-A outfielder Mike Sirota as the kind of offer that could move the Angels.
That observation captures the practical reality of the situation.
The Dodgers already have Mookie Betts manning shortstop, yet Betts is 33 and showing the early signs of a decline phase that often accompanies even the most gifted veterans.
Moving Betts back toward the outfield or a more limited defensive role would open a path for a younger, more athletic shortstop who can contribute immediately on both sides of the ball.
Neto’s combination of power and speed would fit the Dodgers’ lineup without forcing them to overhaul their roster construction. He is under club control through 2028, giving any acquiring team several years of team-friendly production.
For a franchise that has won consecutive World Series titles and routinely operates with one of the deepest farm systems in the sport, adding a player of Neto’s caliber does not require mortgaging the future.
Sirota, ranked as the Dodgers’ No. 3 prospect and among the top 20 in baseball by Baseball America, represents the type of high-upside piece the Angels would want in return. Additional prospects or major-league ready arms could be layered into a deal without gutting Los Angeles’ ability to contend again next October.
Geography also plays a quiet role. A trade between the two Southern California clubs would keep Neto in the same market, easing the transition while giving the Dodgers a homegrown-feeling addition who already understands the region.
The Angels, meanwhile, would receive the kind of talent infusion that could accelerate a rebuild rather than simply treading water. Whether that package ultimately includes Sirota or a different mix of prospects, the Dodgers’ combination of present-day contention and future resources makes them a natural landing spot if the Angels decide they cannot wait for their own young core to catch up.
The coming months will reveal how serious both sides are. Neto’s recent surge has only increased his value, and the Dodgers have shown they are willing to spend prospect capital when the right player becomes available.
If they view Betts’ shortstop days as numbered, Neto offers a ready-made solution that keeps the championship window wide open.
