Ohtani and Angels likely to part ways–but they can’t be traded, why?
Shohei Ohtani is eligible for free agency after this season. It’s unclear if the Los Angeles Angels will be able to retain him. In a past interview, when asked if he wanted to stay with the Angels, Ohtani said, “I like the fans, I like the atmosphere of the club,” but “more than that, I want to win,” he said.
It’s a ritualized response, if you will, but the Angels are far from a “winnable team” this season. Through five games, they’re 45-43, barely above a .500 record. They’re already seven games back of first-place Texas. They’re also four games behind the New York Yankees for the final wild-card spot. There’s still plenty of time left in the season, but baseball stats site FanGraphs.com gives the Angels a 19.4% chance of making the playoffs.
In the meantime, the Angels have lost starting pitcher Mike Trout to the disabled list (IL) with a fractured metacarpal in his left hand. Trout left the game after complaining of pain in his left hand after fouling out during Game 4, and was placed on the IL the next day. A metacarpal fracture typically takes four to eight weeks to rehabilitate. While we don’t know when Trout will be able to return, it’s clear that the Angels’ chances of making the playoffs have been diminished.온라인카지노
If fall baseball is difficult, it might make sense to sell Ohtani, who is a free agent after half a season, before the trade deadline. Trading a superstar for a bunch of prospects and hoping for the best is a common occurrence in the major leagues.
However, it’s extremely unlikely that the Angels will trade Ohtani, according to The Athletic. There are two main reasons. The Angels are aiming to sign Ohtani to a long-term deal. While the Los Angeles Dodgers and other teams are expected to sign him in free agency, the Angels are still holding out hope. However, if they trade him during the season, that would effectively end their relationship with him. It’s rare for a team to let a player walk away in a trade and then be successful in their courtship in free agency.
Another reason is that Ohtani is simply too valuable. This season, Ohtani is having a breakout season at the plate, batting .300 with a 1.044 OPS and 31 home runs in 86 games. On the mound, he has a 7-4 record with a 3.32 ERA in 100.1 innings pitched. He’s great as a pitcher, and as a hitter, it’s hard to find a comparison. Regardless of how many prospects they bring in, the way Ohtani is performing right now, it’s going to be tough to meet fan expectations.
The Athletic pointed out that last season’s trade deadline was effectively the last chance to trade Ohtani. “You wouldn’t dare trade him” in his final season before free agency because he’s having a “monster season.
