After fielding various trade offers for pitcher Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Angels have taken him off the trade market, according to multiple reports. Tom Verducci was first to report the news. Here’s what you need to know:
Ohtani is set to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
The Angels star is 8-5 this season, posting a 3.71 ERA and 1.12 WHIP while slashing .299/.398/.668 with 36 home runs and 77 RBIs.
The MLB trade deadline is Aug. 1 at 6 p.m. ET.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
Is this surprising?
The timing of this announcement is confusing. The Angels are four games out of the third wild card with six games left before the deadline. Their playoff odds are just 15.5 percent, according to FanGraphs. That number could rise or dip drastically in the coming days, and there was no reason for the Angels to decide one way or the other how they’d move forward at the deadline.
It always seemed unlikely that the Angels would trade Ohtani, for better or worse. But to rule out the potential return of the greatest rental of all time with this much time before Aug. 1 doesn’t make much sense. — Blum
Does the move make sense?
This decision is reflective of the way the Angels have operated consistently over Arte Moreno’s tenure as owner. The most important thing is attaining and keeping the best players, rather than putting together the best team. Obviously, having Ohtani makes the team better… in 2023. The question about long-term, sustainable winning isn’t as clear. If the top priority was long-term success, holding out on a decision until necessary to see the viability of winning in 2023 would have made the most sense.
The Angels are buyers now, which also means they’ll likely be trading away prospects at the deadline. It’s a massive risk, but the hope is a huge reward. — Blum
Required reading
(Photo: Jessica Alcheh / USA Today Sports)
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The Los Angeles Angels have made a surprising decision to take pitcher Shohei Ohtani off the trade market, despite receiving various trade offers for the star player. This move comes as Ohtani is set to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason. The decision has left many fans and analysts confused, especially considering the Angels’ current playoff odds and their position in the standings.
With six games left before the MLB trade deadline on August 1st, the Angels are currently four games out of the third wild card spot. According to FanGraphs, their playoff odds are just 15.5 percent. The timing of this announcement raises questions about the team’s strategy and whether it was necessary to make a decision on Ohtani’s future at this point in time.
While it seemed unlikely that the Angels would trade Ohtani, the decision to rule out the potential return of such a valuable player with so much time before the deadline is puzzling. The team’s playoff odds could significantly change in the coming days, making it unclear why the Angels would make a definitive decision on their approach to the deadline.
This move reflects the Angels’ consistent approach under owner Arte Moreno, prioritizing the acquisition and retention of star players over building the best team. Ohtani undoubtedly improves the team’s performance in the short term, but questions arise about the long-term sustainability of winning with this approach. If long-term success was the top priority, it would have made more sense for the Angels to wait until necessary to assess their chances of winning in 2023.
By taking Ohtani off the trade market, the Angels have positioned themselves as buyers rather than sellers at the deadline. This means they are likely to trade away prospects in the hopes of securing a significant reward. While this strategy carries a massive risk, the team is optimistic about the potential payoff.
In conclusion, the Los Angeles Angels’ decision to keep Shohei Ohtani off the trade market has surprised many. With their playoff odds hanging in the balance and the trade deadline approaching, the timing of this announcement is questionable. However, it aligns with the team’s consistent approach of prioritizing star players over building the best team for long-term success. The Angels are now buyers and will be looking to make moves that could potentially yield a significant reward. Only time will tell if this strategy pays off for the team in the future.