Angels News: Pundit Urges LA to Set Pride Aside & Consider Trading Shohei Ohtani
All eyes will undoubtedly be on Los Angeles Angels' superstar Shohei Ohtani in the upcoming months and beyond. Ohtani is set to become a free agent at the conclusion of the 2023 season, and the Angels are determined to retain him for the long term. Trade talks surrounding Ohtani have been circulating for quite some time, and as the trade deadline approaches, the rumors are heating up.
Several experts have recently expressed their belief that the Angels will hold onto Ohtani for the entirety of the season. This news comes as a relief to both the Angels organization and their fans. However, there are pundits who argue that since the Angels are not in a strong position to compete, they should consider trading Ohtani before the deadline. One such advocate for a trade is MLB expert R.J. Anderson from CBS Sports. He pleads with the Angels to reconsider their stance and suggests that trading Ohtani could be a wise move.
The Angels need to be honest about their chances (or lack thereof) when it comes to beating out the glut of American League East teams jockeying for the wild-card spots (not to mention whichever West team finishes second), and, additionally, about their chances (or lack thereof) when it comes to winning the Ohtani sweepstakes, again. Maybe the offers they receive for Ohtani won't justify punting on their playoff aspirations. Fair enough. We just think they should keep an open mind about it.
Losing Ohtani through a trade would undoubtedly be devastating for both the fans and the team. The 28-year-old has been a significant asset to the Angels, both on and off the field. Ohtani's game and brand have had a considerable impact on the team's financial success, including the wallets of owner Arte Moreno. Parting ways with Ohtani would undoubtedly be a blow to the organization in multiple ways.
However, it seems that Moreno and the Angels' management have their sights set on keeping Ohtani for the remainder of the season. They hope that the team's performance will speak for itself and persuade Ohtani to continue his career in Los Angeles. While it may be a longshot, they would rather risk losing him for nothing in free agency than trade him away for prospects.
I don't agree with this mentality, but it appears to be the preference of Moreno and the Angels' front office. They are willing to take the gamble and see if they can convince Ohtani to stay by the team's performance. The coming months will be crucial in determining Ohtani's future with the Angels, and we will all be looking forward to what may happen on that front.
