As the Los Angeles Angels slip further away from postseason contention, they are forced to discuss trading Shohei Ohtani, 29.
After the first of next month, it will be difficult to trade Ohtani during the 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) season.
Of course, the possibility of trading Ohtani, who is a free agent after this season, has been a constant throughout the first half of the season, and the Angels have always answered with a “no trade” answer. However, things have not been going well for the team lately. After losing Mike Trout to injury at the end of the first half, the Angels have fallen out of the AL West and wild card races, effectively ending their hopes of making the postseason.
They are far from the “winning team” that Ohtani emphasizes. Despite all the glittering titles, including AL Unanimous MVP, they haven’t made the postseason since their debut in 2018. Clearly, for Ohtani, who wants a team that can challenge for a World Series title, the current Angels are not an attractive option.메이저사이트
As such, it’s unlikely that the Angels will be able to land Ohtani in free agency, even though he’s worth more than $500 million. If Ohtani becomes a free agent, the Angels would lose him for nothing. The realistic calculation for the Angels is to use Ohtani as a trade chip in the offseason to bolster their lineup with prospects.
Some analysts believe that it will be difficult to find a suitable trade for Ohtani, as he is historically a very expensive player in the MLB. However, local media such as MLB.com have been mentioning the possibility of trading Ohtani more frequently in the second half of the season.
ESPN reported on Aug. 18, “It’s becoming increasingly likely that the Los Angeles Angels owner will order a trade of Ohtani. The Aug. 22 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates could be the last home game Ohtani pitches in an Angels uniform.” On the same day, MLB Network reporter John Morosi said, “A trade is still unlikely, according to a person familiar with the organization’s inner workings, but the door is open. The bar for a trade of Ohtani would be very high. However, the club has no choice but to discuss a trade.”
Shohei Ohtani ⓒ AP=News
The Los Angeles Dodgers are unlikely to send Ohtani to the “big market” Los Angeles Dodgers, who have been a frequent trade target. This is because the Los Angeles Dodgers, who challenge for a World Series title every season and are said to have “the most top prospects out of 30 teams,” are in the same region as the Los Angeles Angels. According to local media, the Angels are unlikely to be traded to the Dodgers or any of their rivals in California.
Against this backdrop, the Baltimore Orioles of the AL East are a possible trade target. The Orioles are in a three-way tie for first place with the Tampa Bay Rays, ahead of the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, thanks to their young roster. They’re in position to punch their ticket to the postseason, and they have just as many quality prospects as the Dodgers. Whether it’s the Dodgers or Baltimore, it’s getting closer and closer to the point where the Angels have no choice but to let Ohtani go.
In the meantime, Ohtani started a home game against the Yankees, who are considered a trade target, and hit a timely three-run homer in a 5-1 win. While his four-game home run streak was snapped, Ohtani still leads the league in home runs (35). He also leads in triples with seven on the day.