If the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> trade for a controllable arm, Reid Detmers could be the best pitcher available.

In <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45568636/ranking-mlb-trade-deadline-candidates-alex-bregman-jarren-duran">ESPN’s</a> latest top 50 trade candidates article, the Los Angeles Angels&#8217; left-handed reliever ranked 27th, with a 15% chance of being traded. Of course, it’s no surprise that the Blue Jays were listed as a fit, as they desperately need pitchers, even though they <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-acquire-seranthony-dominguez-orioles-juaron-watts-brown">traded for Seranthony Domínguez on Tuesday</a>.
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It seems unlikely that the 26-year-old left-handed pitcher will be traded, and if he is, it’ll take a significant haul.  Is Detmers worth it? Let&#8217;s find out!
<h2>Scouting profile</h2>
Standing at 6’2”, 210 lbs, Detmers was drafted 10th overall in the 2020 draft and is one of numerous first-rounders the Angels have called up shortly after being drafted. The left-handed pitcher began his big league career in 2021, making five starts where he had a 7.40 ERA and 6.36 FIP.
In 2022, his first full season in the big leagues, Detmers had a 3.77 ERA and 3.79 FIP in 129 innings pitched, with a 22.6 K% and an 8.5 BB%, his best season as a starter. Detmers didn’t have a great season in 2023, authoring a 4.48 ERA and 4.13 FIP in 148.2 innings. He had an even worse 2024 season, finishing with a 6.70 ERA and 4.72 FIP in 17 starts, throwing 87.1 innings.
Beginning in 2025, Detmers transitioned to the bullpen and has found success as a reliever. Through 44 games, the 26-year-old lefty has a 3.99 ERA and 3.03 FIP in 47.2 innings pitched. Detmers also has a career-high K% so far this season, as he’s struck out 29.5% of the batters he’s faced while posting a 9.5 BB%.
Since moving to the bullpen, Detmers’ fastball velocity has ticked up, as he averages 95.6 mph on the four-seam fastball this season. He pairs that with a nasty slider and curveball. According to his <a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/reid-detmers-672282?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb">Baseball Savant</a> profile, the lefty is in the 91st percentile for whiff% % and the 88th percentile for chase%.
<h2>Contract situation</h2>
On top of good results since joining the Angels’ bullpen, the reason Detmers is so appealing is because of his contract situation.
The 2025 season was Detmers’ first of arbitration, earning a one-year deal worth $1.825 million. He has three more seasons of arbitration before becoming a free agent after the 2028 season. That said, his contract situation plays into why he’ll cost so much at the trade deadline if a team wishes to trade for him
<h2>How does Reid Detmers help the Blue Jays?</h2>
One notable quote in the ESPN article is that some teams still view him as a starter. While he’s found success in the Angels&#8217; bullpen, Detmers came up as a starter and could return there in the future. Regarding the Blue Jays, that could be a long-term option if they were to trade for Detmers.
In the short term, the Jays get a swingman reliever, something which they are evidently looking for before Thursday’s trade deadline. Trading for Detmers also gives the Blue Jays a second left-handed pitcher in the bullpen, which could help alleviate innings for <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-brendon-little-went-from-being-involved-in-small-trade-to-one-best-left-handed-relievers-in-baseball">Brendon Little</a>.
Acquiring Detmers would take a haul, but there’s a lot to like about the 26-year-old.
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Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Blue Jays Nation</a>, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Oilersnation</a>, and <a href="https://flamesnation.ca/author/ryley-delaney">FlamesNation</a>. She can be followed on Twitter <a href="https://x.com/Ryley__Delaney">@Ryley__Delaney</a>.
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If the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> trade for a controllable arm, Reid Detmers could be the best pitcher available.



In <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45568636/ranking-mlb-trade-deadline-candidates-alex-bregman-jarren-duran">ESPN’s</a> latest top 50 trade candidates article, the Los Angeles Angels' left-handed reliever ranked 27th, with a 15% chance of being traded. Of course, it’s no surprise that the Blue Jays were listed as a fit, as they desperately need pitchers, even though they <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-acquire-seranthony-dominguez-orioles-juaron-watts-brown">traded for Seranthony Domínguez on Tuesday</a>.
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It seems unlikely that the 26-year-old left-handed pitcher will be traded, and if he is, it’ll take a significant haul.  Is Detmers worth it? Let's find out!
<h2>Scouting profile</h2>
Standing at 6’2”, 210 lbs, Detmers was drafted 10th overall in the 2020 draft and is one of numerous first-rounders the Angels have called up shortly after being drafted. The left-handed pitcher began his big league career in 2021, making five starts where he had a 7.40 ERA and 6.36 FIP.

In 2022, his first full season in the big leagues, Detmers had a 3.77 ERA and 3.79 FIP in 129 innings pitched, with a 22.6 K% and an 8.5 BB%, his best season as a starter. Detmers didn’t have a great season in 2023, authoring a 4.48 ERA and 4.13 FIP in 148.2 innings. He had an even worse 2024 season, finishing with a 6.70 ERA and 4.72 FIP in 17 starts, throwing 87.1 innings.

Beginning in 2025, Detmers transitioned to the bullpen and has found success as a reliever. Through 44 games, the 26-year-old lefty has a 3.99 ERA and 3.03 FIP in 47.2 innings pitched. Detmers also has a career-high K% so far this season, as he’s struck out 29.5% of the batters he’s faced while posting a 9.5 BB%.

Since moving to the bullpen, Detmers’ fastball velocity has ticked up, as he averages 95.6 mph on the four-seam fastball this season. He pairs that with a nasty slider and curveball. According to his <a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/reid-detmers-672282?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb">Baseball Savant</a> profile, the lefty is in the 91st percentile for whiff% % and the 88th percentile for chase%.
<h2>Contract situation</h2>
On top of good results since joining the Angels’ bullpen, the reason Detmers is so appealing is because of his contract situation.

The 2025 season was Detmers’ first of arbitration, earning a one-year deal worth $1.825 million. He has three more seasons of arbitration before becoming a free agent after the 2028 season. That said, his contract situation plays into why he’ll cost so much at the trade deadline if a team wishes to trade for him
<h2>How does Reid Detmers help the Blue Jays?</h2>
One notable quote in the ESPN article is that some teams still view him as a starter. While he’s found success in the Angels' bullpen, Detmers came up as a starter and could return there in the future. Regarding the Blue Jays, that could be a long-term option if they were to trade for Detmers.

In the short term, the Jays get a swingman reliever, something which they are evidently looking for before Thursday’s trade deadline. Trading for Detmers also gives the Blue Jays a second left-handed pitcher in the bullpen, which could help alleviate innings for <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-brendon-little-went-from-being-involved-in-small-trade-to-one-best-left-handed-relievers-in-baseball">Brendon Little</a>.

Acquiring Detmers would take a haul, but there’s a lot to like about the 26-year-old.

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Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Blue Jays Nation</a>, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Oilersnation</a>, and <a href="https://flamesnation.ca/author/ryley-delaney">FlamesNation</a>. She can be followed on Twitter <a href="https://x.com/Ryley__Delaney">@Ryley__Delaney</a>.

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Blue Jays trade deadline target: Reid Detmers

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