Shohei Ohtani has accomplished nearly everything on the field as one of MLB’s best hitters and pitchers, but one thing he has yet to do is play postseason baseball.
Despite having Mike Trout and Ohtani, the Los Angeles Angels have struggled to build a contending roster, and the 2021 American League MVP has expressed his desire to play on a winning club.
Ohtani has one season of team control remaining before he is eligible to enter free agency, and with his desire to win, there’s a belief he may be unwilling to re-sign with the Angels. That could force the Angels into considering an Ohtani trade at some point in the near future.
Dealing Ohtani would bring the Angels back a significant influx of young talent that is sorely needed on their roster, but according to Andy Martino of SportsNet New York, the team is not expected to consider trading the 28-year-old at this time:
According to sources from multiple clubs, the former market will likely not include Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani.
If Ohtani is unwilling to sign long-term with the Angels, then they risk losing him in free agency for minimal compensation. They could move Ohtani at the 2023 trade deadline, but the return would be less for an in-season rental compared to moving him now.
The Angels are also currently in the process of finding a new owner, which further complicates the situation. An incoming owner may not want to deal with the situation, which means the team would have to work out a long-term deal or trade Ohtani to a new team.
That was similar to the Washington Nationals’ situation with Juan Soto before they traded him to the San Diego Padres this year.
If the Angels don’t trade Ohtani this offseason, speculation will continue to persist until he finds a new club or signs an extension.
Dodgers had interest in Shohei Ohtani trade at 2022 deadline
Prior to the 2022 trade deadline, the Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly attempted to begin negotiations with the Angels for Ohtani, but they did not advance far.
If the Angels do end up putting Ohtani on the trade block by the 2023 trade deadline, the Dodgers would surely be interested in acquiring him.
When Ohtani made the jump to Major League Baseball, he met with and considered signing with the Dodgers before ultimately deciding on the Angels.
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