Rangers get: C Logan O’Hoppe; RHP Chase Silseth
Angels get: INF Angel Arredondo
The Rangers get something for, well, not much
Rangers: A-
Angels: D+
Well, we’ve heard that the Rangers were in the market for a catcher with a bit more pop than their current duo of Not-Kyle-Higashioka and Not-Danny-Jansen (both are on the injured list). While they had, as recently as earlier on Wednesday, been rumored to have interest in Marlins catcher (and former Ranger) Liam Hicks, instead they’ve gotten O’Hoppe and a bonus reliever in Silseth.
O’Hoppe isn’t as exciting a name as he would have been in, say, 2023 when he was a 23-year-old with a .796 OPS. This year, he’s hitting .209/.271/.295 (.565 OPS), which is, ah, worse than Elias Díaz or Austin Wynn’s numbers with Texas. Maybe that’s why Texas immediately optioned him to Triple A.
Silseth is the bigger deal, here. After posting a sub-2.00 ERA last year (albeit in just 11 innings), he’s been worth 1.1 bWAR over 47 relief appearances in 2026. The Rangers needed bullpen help, and this is that.
Arredondo, a 19-year-old infielder who plays more third base than shortstop or second, has a respectable .769 OPS in 87 games for Class-A Hickory this year. But he’s not on Keith Law’s top 20 Rangers prospects list, nor MLB’s Top 30. Asked about him tonight, Law said, “best case scenario he’s a utility infielder, but probably not.”
Given that pedigree, you’d think this was a way for Anaheim to get out from under some onerous money. Not necessarily. O’Hoppe was making $2.63 million this year. He’s not set to hit free agency for two more seasons, but the Rangers could always non-tender him at the arbitration deadline if things don’t work out. Meanwhile, Silseth isn’t arbitration-eligible until 2028, so he’s making less than $1 million and is extremely affordable.
So, what exactly are the Angels up to, here? Maybe they see something in Arredondo that hasn’t become common knowledge just yet. — Levi Weaver
The Angels start to break it down — and that itself means progress
Angels: B+
Rangers: A-
This trade is significant for the Angels because Logan O’Hoppe was once ordained as the next face of the franchise. His teammates used to call him a pseudo captain. He was supposed to be the future. But the last two years, he was one of the least productive everyday players in baseball.
O’Hoppe was flipped one-for-one for Brandon Marsh in 2022 — an All-Star starter this season. He just hasn’t panned out, offensively or defensively. Perhaps Texas will offer a change of scenery that he desperately needs. That’s what interim GM John Mozeliak said when addressing the trade in its immediate aftermath on Wednesday.
Ultimately, this trade is about the Rangers getting a relief arm. Chase Silseth has been reliable out of the bullpen this year, and they’ll need back-end bullpen arms as the team in the AL West driver’s seat.
The Angels might have had to option O’Hoppe in the coming days with the return of Travis d’Arnaud. Shipping him out saves some trouble.
The player the Angels got back isn’t rated as a top prospect for the Rangers, but the Angels need offensive depth in their system. Arredondo has improved this season and developed some power. Mozeliak said he’s a Top 10 prospect in the Angels system.
What’s positive for the Angels is that they’re making moves. They’re starting the process to change the roster materially, and that is long past due. — Sam Blum
