For Angels’ Zach Neto, Red Sox trade deadline rumors were ‘pretty, pretty stressful’

In the leadup to the trade deadline last month, as Red Sox decision-makers wondered whether they should or would acquire Angels shortstop Zach Neto, a funny thing happened: Neto wondered, too.

“That whole week, hearing my name out there repetitively, it was pretty, pretty stressful,” Neto said Tuesday at Fenway Park before the Angels’ 6-1 win over the Red Sox. Neto went 4 for 5 with a home run and two RBIs.

“I’m just being a regular human, scrolling through social media. It was a good while there where I had to just get off of it. Every couple scrolls, I saw myself. And it’s not a bad thing. It was just: I don’t want to use that as a distraction. … Seeing myself every single day wasn’t a good feeling.”

To be bandied about in trade talks is a compliment, Neto assured himself in those moments. If a team wanted him, he must be doing something right.

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But the stress remained until the deadline passed on Aug. 3. Neto was among the Sox’ most-discussed targets, and the Angels held a high price, starting with shortstop Franklin Arias, the Red Sox’ top prospect, sources said then.

In the end, the clubs did not match up. The Red Sox, of course, acquired catcher Adley Rutschman with several hours to spare.

For the Angels, the five weeks since represent an eon. Arte Moreno agreed to sell the club to Stan Kroenke, owner of the Los Angeles Rams (NFL), Denver Nuggets (NBA), and Colorado Avalanche (NHL), among other sports franchises.

Neto’s uncertainty stemmed from whether he would stick with the Angels long-term. In that context, a change in ownership is a paradigm shift, leaving Neto knowing what he wants.

“It’s a long history of success and winning. So we’re just hopeful that he can bring the same here and bring winning baseball back to Anaheim,” Neto said of Kroenke. “Everybody knows where my heart lies, and that’s just playing on the ballfield every single day and trying to help this team win. And now with the new ownership, it’s a no-brainer. I want to be here and be able to help the team win.”

As for his Red Sox era that never was?

“I’m just thankful everything’s over with,” Neto said. “I can just go out there and play free and just do my thing.”

Willson Contreras (left hamstring strain) took batting practice, typically a sign that an injured player is close to returning, and completed defensive drills at first base.

The Red Sox expect him back when eligible (technically Thursday, an offday) or shortly thereafter. Whether he goes on a rehab assignment is largely up to him, interim manager Chad Tracy said.

“There is a sentiment that he might want to go play a little bit, but we have not confirmed and [are] not opposed if he changes his mind,” Tracy said. “If he wants to do that, we definitely want to do that for him for sure.”

Garrett Crochet (left shoulder injury) and Tyron Guerrero (right shoulder inflammation) drew the same assessment from Tracy following their bullpen sessions: “Looked good, felt good.”

That was about all the Sox wanted from both hurlers, especially Crochet, who completed his second such session in his bid to return in time for the playoffs — a development the Red Sox would welcome if he stays on track.

“It’s Garrett Crochet. If Garrett Crochet looks like Garrett Crochet and he’s healthy and able to go out there and pitch, and it looks like him, yeah, that helps any team,” Tracy said. “That’s why we keep working to get all these guys healthy. I hate getting too far ahead of myself. I just want to see him continue to check the boxes he needs to check, and as we get closer and it feels like hey, this is a realistic thing now, then we can kind of figure out what that [role] is.”

Guerrero’s return is more of a near-term proposal. He is eligible to come off the IL on Sept. 16. He is likely to face hitters in a minor league or simulated game over the weekend, per Tracy.

“Knock on wood, we have him available for that day [Sept. 16], but everything’s going well with him so far,” Tracy said.

In his first game action since July 2025, Tanner Houck appeared out of the bullpen for Double-A Portland on Tuesday, throwing 20 pitches and recording two outs. He walked two of four batters, threw a wild pitch, and allowed a run.

From the source Tim Healey can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @timbhealey.