Shohei Ohtani’s patience may be wearing thin with the Angels’ consistent lack of success. Los Angeles’s two-way superstar has repeatedly indicated his desire to win to the press, sparking a plethora of rumors regarding his intentions once he becomes a free agent. With only one season left until he is scheduled to hit the open market, every word that comes out of Ohtani’s mouth is going to be perceived as a potential clue as to his future plans.
On Tuesday, Ohtani arrived home in his Japan where he spoke with reporters, including Koji Ueda of the Associated Press. This time, he not only reiterated his commitment to winning, but explicitly stated his disappointment with the Angels’ inability to win. Speaking in Japanese, Ohtani said that “August and September in particular felt longer to me than last year” because the Angels “were not able to play as many good games as we would like — including 14 consecutive losses. So I have a rather negative impression of this season.”
These statements lamenting the final stretch of the Angels’ season come even as Ohtani closed his season on an absolute tear. From August on, the reigning AL MVP slashed .303/.363/.560, posted a wRC+ of 156, and logged a 1.62 ERA over 66 2/3 innings. It speaks volumes about Ohtani’s team-first mentality that he would describe August and September as specifically woeful, considering how fantastic his individual performance was during that timeframe.
The Angels finished 73-89 in 2022, 13 games back of Tampa Bay for the final wild card spot. In Ohtani’s five seasons, the Halos have never had a record at or above .500 and have ended each season at least ten games behind the AL West champion, despite frequently getting world-class production out of Ohtani and Mike Trout. They will also face difficulties in changing their fortunes going forward. The Angels’ farm system was ranked dead last in MLB.com’s 2022 midseason rankings and features only one top-100 prospect in catcher Logan O’Hoppe (#67). As such, they do not have many young assets with which they could flip into Major League-ready players via trade. Also, with owner Arte Moreno exploring a sale of the club, it’s unknown how willing he will be to make major investments in the free agent market this winter.
With the club underperforming this year, the Angels considered Ohtani trades at the deadline but Moreno reportedly put the kibosh on that plan. Of course, if the team has a new owner, that has the potential to change things. If the team is having another disappointing season as next year’s deadline approaches, the trade rumors will only grow louder.
Like everything involving Ohtani, his trade market would no doubt be unprecedented and allow the Angels to add a large pile of young talent to their system. In fact, Ohtani has already demonstrated a capacity to break records on the market, having agreed to a $30 million contract in his final year of arbitration, the largest ever for an arbitration eligible player.
What is uncertain is which team would have the motivation and assets to unload a massive prospect haul for one guaranteed year, or just a few months, of Ohtani. Contending teams would be most likely to hedge a big chunk of their future to do so, but there are only so many contenders with sufficient farm systems to land him. The Dodgers, Guardians, and Rays are the only three playoff teams with farm systems ranked in the top 10 of MLB.com’s 2022 midseason farm system rankings. Additionally, the Mets, Cardinals, and Yankees all have at least four top-100 prospects that, if included in a theoretical deal, could help a deal come together.
Whether Ohtani stays an Angel or is traded somewhere else, speculation regarding his future is sure to dominate headlines in 2023.
Wowzers. Shohei saying he feels “negative” is the equivalent of a standard human uttering a plethora of despicable swear words….Throttle back a little Shohei…
Angels should blow it up at this point. The prospects you could get for trout and shohei…..
Shohei alone could fetch a teams top 5-10 prospects.
No he couldn’t. If one player could move the needle that much, the Angels wouldn’t suck.
How good a player can make the Angels is a pretty awful metric. No, he can’t single-handedly turn the Angels into a winner, but he can absolutely make a massive impact to the Yankees, Dodgers, Mets, Padres, etc. etc.
I mean, he made $30mm in arb… more than any other player. So yeah, it stands to reason he could bring in a haul bigger than most players.
Angel fans want to torch ownership and management, and I get it, but the truth is Trout only played 155 games total the last 2 seasons while Rendon tallied 105. True there is very little depth and other teams can whether injuries better, but imagine the Yankees without Judge and Stanton. Dodgers without Mookie and Freddie. Ohtani himself missed pitching in 2019 and 2020 because of Tommy John.
They need to get and stay healthy and finally get some depth for 2023. Serious pieces are there, they just never get to put it together. April 2022 was a great example of what they can do.
I agree, they also will have much better quality of depth all around the diamond especially starting pitching. Much better options than a long time.
Would the Dodgers pony up all that?
1yr of even the games best player is not going to net the top 10 prospects of someones farm.
Realistically they could get maybe 4 or 5 as long as he’s amicable to signing an extension with the team trading for him. If whoever gets him cant get that nailed down, his haul will drastically drop.
I think he meant him AND Trout…Even then not 10. Maybe 6 or 7.
I think a realistic return for one year of ohtani might be something like 3 top 100 prospects and one high ceiling prospect
People dreaming of Ohtani getting half a dozen top prospects are not living in reality. They seem to forget Betts, just 3y back returned just a regular corner OF with 5y of control left. Another guy (Downs), who had never hit above A Ball and was the best prospect, but definitely not a BA top 10 guy and Wong, whose top end was a utility guy.catcher.
Ohtani isn’t going to return more than 1 “good” prospect, along with maybe another decent kid, or possibly regular player with years of control left. Gone are the days when multiple high end kids were thrown away for vets.
Teams will absolutely pay more than that if a market value extension is likely, and may pay more than that even if it is not likely.
It all depends on how good the Angels are at scouting another teams farm system…
It is Boston’s fault that is “all” they got for Betts..
Plus Ohtani is a once in a generation type of player, AND he has the backing of an entire other country. So, you know he’s also going to come with a boatload of extra publicity and jersey, ticket, and memorabilia sales..
I’m not saying Ohtani is going to fetch the Angels five or six of a team’s top prospects, but I could reasonably see the Angels getting a team’s top prospect, and then getting another top 5 guy, and then two more top 15 prospects…
Obviously, it would depend on the overall talent in said team’s system, but ai can see them acquiring 1-2 highly talented prospects and another 1-2 prospects that are further away for Ohtani..
Not with one year left on his contract he won’t. If he agreed to a long term deal, then yes
What’s he supposed to say – “ the season wasn’t good but I enjoyed playing on a losing team very much”?
By signing his extension there, that is essentially what Trout said.
The Angels should blow it up?
Post All Star break ERA of their top four starters.
Ohtani 2.28
Sandoval 2.53
Sanchez 2.91
Detmers 3.56
The Angels need a bullpen and a manger that knows how to use the bullpen. Nevin doesn’t, so Perry needs to make the pen dummy proof.
It’s not Maddon or Nevin who decides. It’s the FO who who to use out of the BP.
Winslow, I normally like what you post but the GM doesn’t tell the manager who to use, if he did all hell would break out
Agree. Mainly they need a dependable and good closer. This is the biggest hole for next year.
No team is trading their top 5-10 prospects for a year of Ohtani. Yes, it will require a king’s ransom, but that’s ridiculous.
Let’s say he says “trade me to the Yankees or I walk 100%”.
What would that look like?
Volpe, Dominguez, Pereira, and a couple eyes at the tail end of the top 20 is probably what it takes.
The Yanks tried and wanted him when he came to MLB but he wanted to live in nice weather. Unless he no longer cares about beautiful weather on a losing team, keep that in mind.
If he’s traded over the winter he maybe gets 1-2 top 10 prospect only if he’s signing an extension.
He’ll bring back more than that… people seem to forget it’s essentially a trade for a top 10 MLB SP AND a top 10 MLB bat… one year or not he’ll bring back at least two top 100 prospects plus at least one other system top 10 prospect (and he’ll be worth it)
@Not impressed; yes, agreed with a couple of top tens getting it done.
I am curious to see where he ends up. My gut says it will be a team with an owner who is heavily involved in the daily baseball decision making of his franchise with priority acquiring a stud that gets fannies in seats.
I would be shocked if a franchise with a hands off owner who trusts in his baseball people to make the baseball decisions would pursue Ohtani. Logic being there is very little history showing a dual threat helps win a WS.
Haha so true
I feel very negative about the Tigers in 2022.
He getting inpatient with the Angels better hurry Nevin.
Phil could just call up his old friend Ken Caminiti.
Bullpen issues would be fixed in no time, if he passed on the tutelage he got in the 90s.
Nobody’s calling up, Ken, man.
Maybe with a Ouija board.
Hahaha. I cannot believe I let that tiny detail of him being dead slip right past me! My dead celebrity memory is limited, so I just use it to remember Dennis Hopper is still dead.
You’d think Nevin earned enough money in his career to afford a couple ghost phone calls.
It’s about to get hot in the kitchen oof
Just wanted to say I met the man in your profile picture a few weeks back. He is one of the nicest, kindest, friendliest, and most conscientious young people I’ve ever had the privilege of meeting. I especially loved when he yelled “power, total power!!” unprompted out loud in public. Safe to say I’m a BIG BIG Dash Dobrofsky fan
Fletch you are being serious right?? Hahaha Because I am about to google this person….I am so lost haha
Jesus…You are right. It is a real human.
Lol I love this site
I’m actually did meet him tho. He’s about 5′ 5″ and is the exact same off camera as he is online. Such a special individual
5’5? He sounds just like FLETCH!!!!
Never heard of him. Do I have to do a Google search or something?
No, you son of a b. No Google search necessary.
Angels don’t deserve Trout or Ohtani. They have all the resources, all the glam of Cali (worst state btw), yet they come up short every year. Not even short as in getting knocked out in the playoffs, but not even being remotely competitive. You have cheat codes in Trout and Ohtani and they can’t field a respectable team. Honestly, if they didn’t have Trout, they should’ve been in rebuild mode years ago, yet they continue to throw money at a dart board and hope somehow the rest of the club comes together, when they haven’t been able to develop ANY players. Are there any all star caliber players the Angels have developed not named Trout and Ohtani in the last 10 years? It’s sad dude. That’s what it is. This is sad.
Your team lost 108 or more games in 3 of the last 4 full seasons
And they have the top farm system in baseball. Have had 3 playoff appearances since trout came. There is a future in Baltimore. No it’s not the gold standard of teams, but at least there is a plan and they haven’t wasted two of the greatest players possibly ever
But they don’t have David Fletcher, and that’s why you’ll always be the Yankees and Red Sox redheaded stepbrother. Come back to this when Adley and Gunnar are traded at the 2027 trade deadline.
Baltimore is definitely a contender for Ohtani’s services if he’s open to moving to the east coast. They have a great core and are ready to spend big. I remember him being focused on being out west when he first came to the US or am I wrong.
No. Baltimore is not a contender. His profile does not mesh with Os plan.
Baltimore was a contender just last year. Almost got a wild card spot.
I don’t mean to come across so abrupt, but it irks me how the Angels have handled things
It irks angels fans too. Trying rooting for a team with an incompetent owner and management team. Hopefully things turn around after the sale.
Sure, we are hurting just as players feel dosappointed. but we still love the team not the dumbos who run the team. but when an orioles fan says we don’t deserve Trout or Ohtani it is laughable. Especially when his Orioles have been taking money from other teams. The angels’ fans invest money, time and emotions into the team whether it wins or loses.
As a former O’s fan, it’s irked me how Angelos has handled the O’s since the 90’s.
Peter Angelos, a hands on owner, has not been the owner since 2018. His son, John, a hands off owner, took over then. First hire. VP Elias. Elias gutted the FO. Started from scratch. Results are significant. Moreno could learn from this model. If he sells, for the sake of the fans, may the new ownership take this hands off approach. DON’T meddle. Let your baseball people make the baseball decisions.
and they had a winning record this year, what has your team done with the greatest players of a generation on it? Gtfoh…
And how many years of tanking and top three picks for years to now have prospects and a good young core to finally field a fourth place team? No Angels fan would argue that Arte Moreno is a truly awful owner. His background is in marketing and advertising. He won’t consider trading Ohtani because he is worth ten thousand extra tickets sold when he pitches and mzore than a million a year in advertising from Japan. He is selling so he isn’t going to be worried about leaving a playoff roster for the next owner. No one who is interested in buying the team knows that their is a long rebuild ahead. The entire organization needs new management from the top on down. They will need to hire a President of Baseball Operations and let that person build a new staff of competent people, unlike the current administration.
Bottom line is that it is very tough to be an Angels fan, just like Baltimore fans have endured for the better part of a decade.
M
trout27 – “No one who is interested in buying the team knows that their (sic) is a long rebuild ahead.”
I would bet that anyone spending $2.5b knows exactly what they are buying. They didn’t get to be a billionaire by not doing research on their investments.
And looking at specifics on the roster and not just using uninformed conjecture, why do you think a “long rebuild” is ahead?
prove356 – “I would bet that anyone spending $2.5b knows exactly what they are buying. They didn’t get to be a billionaire by not doing research on their investments.”
1) Don’t confuse the ability to make money with the ability to understand how to build a winning baseball organization.
2) We could end up with another Moreno who is skilled and interested in building his net worth and not concerned with building a competitive organization.
3) The Dodgers’ ownership bought out McCourt knowing full well it would be and expensive slow process to turn a busted franchise around. Anyone who buys the Angels should expect the same.
Thanks comber but your three points have nothing to do with what I said to trout27. He suggested a new owner is going to buy the team with no knowledge of the product he’s buying. Billionaires don’t invest in a vacuum. They do research, just like I do. And I’m a thousandaire.
Oh, I’m sorry. I read your message as implying that any person wise enough to have $2.5B would also be too wise to buy a team needing a rebuild.
You also questioned why the team needs a rebuild.
What was your point?
My point was to have trout27 explain why he thinks the team needs a rebuild.
For a lot of Halo fans, getting to see Trout is enough. I think he is the best to ever play the game so I don’t ever feel cheated unless he is not playing. He IS the Angels.
Trout is not the best to ever play the game. He just has the most band aids.
You funny little goose you
Yes trout is the bewt player on baseball along with ohtabi. Your just a hater
I get it. I just think for what they’ve spent and who they have you deserve better results.
Of course we deserve better. We have just learned to compromise is all.
Every game i go to the guy takes a day off.
TrumboJumbo “For a lot of Halo fans, getting to see Trout is enough. I think he is the best to ever play the game so I don’t ever feel cheated unless he is not playing. He IS the Angels.”
Personally, I’m not having fun seeing the Angels not win a single playoff game during Trout’s career. We’ve AVERAGED 23 games back over the last seven season. That isn’t enough for me.
— everything I’ve tried to post this morning has shown up in three places —
You kinda lost me the moment you started dissing on another state like that. I didn’t even finish your post. I don’t know what you have against Cali, be it something personal or political or whatever, but it doesn’t have anything to do with baseball.
If quality of life us affected by a state, it is absolutely relevant. High taxes, for example? Why go somewhere w high income tax when some states have no state income tax? Or maybe the scenery…tent villages, feces on the sidewalk, government officials who force you to do things while they don’t hold themselves to the same standard. I don’t do superlatives, so won’t say Cali is the worst, but it is naive to think such things are irrelevant.
what you have no capacity to understand is, here in California we make more and pay more.income here is much higher that those states with no or low income taxes. I’d rather stay here and make more and pay more.
and the bible teaches us to share our wealth with the less fortunate. taxes do it. you can always stay poorer and pay nothing.
The government is “less fortunate?”
aragon – “…the bible teaches us to share our wealth with the less fortunate. taxes do it.”
Actually the bible doesn’t talk about charity forced by government as it is in California. The bible talks about personal charity from the heart. California’s kind of charity is called socialism. I took a huge pay cut when I chose to leave California and my take home pay stayed the same because I moved to a no income tax state. And California’s issues run so much deeper than taxes.
luke 3:11. that was socialism.
aragon – No where in that verse or the bible does it mandate “charity” through government. Charity is from the heart, not forced by government, because then it’s not charity. Two verses later in Luke 3:13, John the Baptist tells the tax collectors: “Don’t collect any more than you are required to…”
Don’t twist God’s Word to fit your narrative. That’s not a good road to travel.
aragon – Just so people who read this are clear:
Luke 3:11 – “John (the Baptist) answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
Luke 3:13 – “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he (John the Baptist) told them (tax collectors).”
John the Baptist was not a government official, actually he was quite the opposite. He was sent to prepare the way for Jesus. Those verses are his responses to questions asked by the crowd of people he was baptizing. He was from God, not from government. In fact he was eventually beheaded by Herod.
People always seem to take versus out of context to support their conclusions. The people who study the Bible logically, instead of with an agenda, realize its brilliance.
But people today are the most arrogant generation in history and think they are morally superior to all other generations that went before. No one needs to tell them what is right and wrong, they know what’s right and wrong. As said, arrogant.
To say God said something he did not in fact say, is in my mind the main meaning of “Do not use the lords name in vain.” Not that you should yell out his name when you stub your toe. I think there is more evidence for this, and it makes much more sense.
Um, have you ever been to California? If you have lately, you would not be asking that question. California should be annexed, let’s pick up Puerto Rico to make it stay 50.
you know what? california has homless problems. every state, city and town sweeps them west. californoa should collect fees from states where they came from.
when you can only afford the worst part of california that is the impression you get!
aragon – “california has homless (sic) problems. every state, city and town sweeps them west.”
Huh? Do you have even a shred of evidence to back that up?
You lost me at “worst state BTW” this isn’t about states or where people play, it’s about how the teams are run and how the rosters are constructed.
Awww, reading isn’t THAT hard.
Key difference between the two: Ohtani will go somewhere else to win, Trout took the $$$ and has now hamstrung his organization because of it.
(Commence outrage. How dare someone be critical of Mike Trout!!!)
Most everyone on the planet would’ve taken the money. You’re giving prosperity to generations of your family.
he could’ve gotten that money anywhere
I don’t think you’re being critical of Trout, you’re being critical of the people that gave him the contract.
Trout has been a bargain for every year but one.
Apparently, you’ve never heard of Brandon Walsh or Taylor Ward. Or any of the young pitchers who, while not all-stars yet, soon will be (like Sandoval & Detmers)…
Oh, and it’s not like Maryland is at the top of any lists, either…
I have not heard of Brandon Walsh…unless you mean from 90210. Did you mean Jared Walsh? The Jared Walsh who put up -.6 fWAR in 2022?
Yes, I meant Jared Walsh. The same Jared Walsh who was injured for much of ‘22 but did put up 2.3 WAR IN ‘21.
What about Brenda Walsh and Dylan McKay?
Walsh was an all-star even after the having one. How many times has the Orioes had at least 2 all-stars and that they produced one of them. As I remember you get one no matter what. They are not that far off from a contending team in my opinion. I think the hitters will be much better as a group. Everyone Thought they would hit solid and look at what they did in April. The bullpen needs improvement at the back end, and they could resign Lorenzen for a good price. The pitching is much better than anything they have had in a while. Take out the # 6 pitcher the 2nd half. The Angels starters were among the best in the 2nd half. They will now have a few options at AAA as well as the return of players like Griffin Canning and Chris Rodriguez.
Wow–I had almost forgotten about CRod. It’s been a while since I’ve heard anything about him. Yeah, he should be part of the SP mix going forward. Really, all the Angels need now is an outfielder (Adell can be 4th OF at this point), a middle infielder (could be 2B or SS), Trout & Rendon to stay healthy (I know, big ask) and a veteran SP. Lorenzen maybe, but I’d hope they at least go shopping at the top of the market (Rodon or deGrom).
And a new owner, stat!
I agree other than Adell. He needs to spend a full year in AAA to learn how to hit and play defense, which is really the whole game. MLB is not where you learn to be an MLB player. He’s not ready.
You can’t learn how to hit in the PCL. As far as defense, He already learned how to play an adequate LF.
You can’t depend on him and you can’t cut him loose. As I keep saying, Wil Myers.
That’s where our AAA team is so the PCL is where it has to happen. He won’t learn in an Angels uniform. Plus everyone of our home growns learned in the PCL so there’s nothing special that would hinder Adell from learning. That’s where he belongs. For defense, I think he has shown moments of potential but still, he needs work.
Actually, a lot of home-grown talent (not just the Angels, but most orgs) make the jump from AA to the majors nowadays. Most likely because the AAA West (former PCL) is known as a hitters’ paradise (high altitude parks like SLC, Albuquerque, Reno, for instance), so AAA may give someone like Adell too much confidence in skills that might not completely translate to the Show.
———system triple posted ———
“ight imma head out”
Will the Angels ever be good again? The CBT may help parity, and the 12 team playoffs give perpetual bad teams a better chance to make the playoffs, but if Ohtani wants to make the playoffs, and have a chance to win, he may need to demand a trade.
OHTANI’S BEEN IN THE LEAGUE FOR FIVE YEARS????!!!
I’m so effing old.
They suck, was he supposed to feel positive about 2022?
Yankees and Dodgers will be after him for sure but don’t count out a Rangers pursuit
Let me say as a long time Padres fan I feel positive about 2022.
The Angles are the worst team in all of baseball the last 5+ years. Literally have Ohtani and Trout and can’t even play .500 ball. Such a joke of a team.
They are two out of 25 guys on the roster, and probably 100 in the organization. They’ve both produced, it is up to the Angels to put complimentary parts around them.
Obviously baseball is a team sport, but they had a few years there where Trout was providing as much value as other teams’ entire OF. To have that kind of handicap as well as the money they have and still not be able to put together a competitive team is pretty embarrassing.
They have a massive payroll and two of the best players yet can’t even play close to .500 ball. Complete and utter joke.
I love how everyone calls the Angels the “worst” team in baseball when there have been at least a dozen worse teams these last few years. Admittedly, the Angels have been frustrating to watch since Scioscia left. Yet as bad as the Angels have been, they haven’t finished in last place since the 1990s. Also, people love to point out how they can’t win with superstars Trout and Ohtani, when Trout (and Rendon) has missed big parts of the last two seasons. And Fletcher missed most of this season. Walsh wasn’t himself this season and had season-ending surgery. Ohtani had Tommy John surgery in 2019.
I’d love to see them all healthy for just one season. Their starting rotation is actually pretty good. Also, they had players like Taylor Ward and Luis Rengifo finally coming into their own. Their biggest problems are health, their bullpen, and their lack of depth that kills them whenever injuries occur.
Over the last five years, Trout and Ohtani have been healthy five total seasons.
It’s not Ohtani and Trout, it’s Ohtani or Trout.
Agree Halo11, The good part for me is that I believe Ohtani has studied hard how to keep healthy. He also knows himself well and I think he will remain relatively Healthy going forward. Rendon is now under rated if he can return healthy. His defense looked again this year. Even a somewhat down year with the bat would be light years of what we got from 3B in 22. At the very least he is better at getting runners over and in.
I feel negative about 2022 as well
He turned down teams like the Red Sox, Yankees, Cubs and San Fran because of Eppler. If or when he hits the open market I’d think the Mets would be the favorite.
Unless he resents Eppler for luring him to baseball purgatory.
Haha. Good point.
If they’re going to trade him they really should do it in the offseason. How much are teams really going to give up for two months and a playoff run? And what if he gets hurt? The only reason not to trade him now is if you’re delusional and you think the Halos are going to compete with Houston and Mariners next year.
The clear solution is to trade Ohtani, the hitter, to the Yankees, and Ohtani, the pitcher, to the Dodgers. His left-handed swing will do wonders in that short porch in right for the Yankees except for every fifth day, in which he is pitching for the Dodgers.
Could Ohtani do a joint contract? Like would that even be feasible? I would find that amazing. Hanser should do it first. Closer and superUtil
I highly doubt it, but it is a funny hypothetical.
Great player, obviously didn’t do his research before signing. The Angels traditionally are…not good. The FO makes bad decisions, good drafting seems to be sporadic at best, little development of players in minors, etc. It’s like earning a teaching degree then complaining about salary–you knew what you were getting into, whether right or wrong! Sorry, little sympathy here.
Man Sideline, maybe only 1/2 of my teachers didn’t complain about salary etc… They were all miserable. I would ask why my book was missing 3 chapters and they would say “ask/blame the state.” That was from 2nd grade on up.
Well said – the Angels need more of this mindset in their organization.
The economic imbalance in this sport is a joke. This is made for Ohtani to get traded to Dodgers, who with its TV contract, can offer him an extension without blinking at whatever he wants like Betts. Just a matter of filling in the blanks for prospects and decent starter with some contract control.
This is 100% a cultural difference thing. Non-American athletes aren’t programmed the way American ones are. They aren’t reflexively positive about their team’s chances of winning, and aren’t expected to be obsessed with their sport, but instead are more honest and human. He’ll presumably go to the biggest offer in a city he’s comfortable in.
Well I agree with him. There were only a few bright spots on the team this year. Crazy thing is with out him in the rotation and line up we wouldn’t have been much better than the As or bottom teams. I hope that they sell the team this off-season cause with or without Ohtani we need a new direction and identity. What we’ve been doing the last few years isn’t working and with 1 of your 2 super stars saying all this to the media is proof that it needs to change. Either trade and get what you can or build a winning team. It’s that simple
If the Angels did care about the future of the franchise they would trade Ohtani right now for a package of top prospects. Think of how many great player they could build the team up with. Unfortunately they will not trade him thinking they can get him to resign next year. Why would he resign he wants to win now. With all the money tied up in Trout and Ohtani they will not have money left over to build a team. So start the next step now and offer him around until you have a offer you can’t refuse.
The trick is, as others have pointed out, the backlash involved with trading a franchise player like Ohtani. But yes, they either have to bite the bullet and do what is best for the team, or find a way to build a winner around Ohtani and Trout REAL quick.
You are correct and it is a trick. The Angels get one year. The Angels are going to have to make the playoffs and go deep into the playoffs or Ohani will sign with another team.
I’m not sure the management is in place to do that (Nevin, Minasian, Moreno), but every Angel fan has to hope it is.
That’s what he gets for picking a garbage team. Should’ve picked a real contender like the Phillies or Astros.
Why would he live in the garbage place like those or what ever the garbage place you live in?
Those places have played in October
angels played in october, too. just not in postseason. it is still beutiful in most of oc. and those places are still garbage.
The Phillies? THE PHILLIES?
LOL
Before this year, their last time in the postseason was…2011.
Yeah, enjoy Cleveland, Ohtani
ALL Angels fans feel frustrated with the past several seasons. There have been many scapegoats on Angel chatrooms– Mickey Hatcher, Mike Scioscia, Tony Reagins, Jerry Dipoto, Eppler, Asmus, Maddon, Minasian….and Arte Moreno… All of those guys have a hand in it as do guys that are rarely mentioned– Carpino & Kuhl.
I don’t blame Ohtani one bit. Angels are AWFUL at player draft & development, ridiculously incompetent at Free Agency and are generally (except for Ohtani) non-entities in the international market.
The only opportunity to keep Ohtani is for Moreno to sell the team and a new owner creates some immediate buzz with a new infrastructure that Ohtani feels confident in.
All they have to do is change the name back to Anaheim and the curse is lifted.
I think you might have something there.
I wonder what he ends up saying about his choice to choose the angels when all is said and done… what a long ridiculous signing process for him to choose the worst team possible.
Giants need to figure out a way to land Ohanti. Would be the pick up they need.
One of you guys please Google the No-Trade-Clause in his contract. Then tell us what’s what.
As far as I can see he doesn’t have one.
So who’s he getting traded to?
Ohtani could have waited a couple years in Japan and then scored a huge contract…
Man bet on himself, gets a 30mil deal in 2023….after getting A1 surgery to clear up his arm woes……
Something tells me, his camp was playing chess all along….and all of us were watching a checkers match…Kudos
(to wit, from a Phillies fan)
Probably coming to Seattle to play with Julio.
Probably signs with the yankees like his fellow Japanese players before him.
If Otani is traded, at least 4 top 20 mlb ready prospects.
You can’t sit here on this site and says he’s worth 30mil in arb but not worth more than a top prospect or two.
Would he want to play on the east coast, instead of a full day of travel closer to home?
MLB lags other sports in how well it markets its superstars, but nonetheless, it would be very much in the league’s best interest to see him land in a less unsuccessful major market.
Can’t wait for Ohtani to purchase a nice place along the Lake on the NorthSide of Chicago.
Come on Cubs this is the guy you need!
Angels have had plenty of time to build a winner. No way he stays with them.
I think the only conceivable way the Yankee front office could escape being pilloried if they let Judge walk would be to acquire Ohtani.
And the Halos get Judge in return Fink??
yankees have no prospects.
aragon, the Yankees still have prospects to trade, even though Cashman gave away a lot of talent in the foolish trades for Gallo and Montas. They’re ranked the 8th-best farm system by Kiley McDaniel at ESPN:
espn.com/mlb/insider/insider/story/_/id/34345715/p…
The Yankees would have to give Judge a contract first in order to trade him, so nope.
Haha Yes. I guess what I meant was, if they give up Shohei would they replace him with #99?
Trout and Judge in the middle of the lineup? I guess that could work. ; )
But without pitching it’d still be hard to contend, wouldn’t it?
Alright, we’ll take Judge AND Verlander.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
You are talkin my language now Fink! Wiser words have never been spoken..
And I borrowed them, of course.
If you know the origin of that phrase/maxim then you are quite the genius.
I couldn’t find that out, but I did find this alternative view:
psychologytoday.com/us/blog/second-wind/201206/any…
Well, clearly he should sign with one of the 4 or 5 teams who win consistently because of their large market status and MLB’s thumb and be a “winner”.
Even if new ownership makes all the right moves and spends big, I think it’s a long shot that the team will be a legit contender next season. It’s probably time to entertain offers and get things started on the right path. I’d even be ok if the team mercy-traded Trout (with his needed approval) so the Angels could rebuild and the GOAT could have a chance for a ring somewhere if that’s what he wants to do. I think we owe it to him.
I got flak for saying he might go the Yankees but I think it could be a real scenario if he wants to win.
They should trade him since it’s clear he intends to hit free agency and leave. Artre won’t trade him though. He’ll sell the team and leave the decision with the new owners.
Probably LordD, probably most definitely.
Time to head to St. Louis like he should have done in the first place.
It is a good thing when a player is disappointed with a below average overall team performance.
Selling the team, it makes sense to keep Ohtani so that the new ownership can decide what to get for him in a trade or whether they are willing to break the bank and extend him.
It will be interesting to see if Ohtani chooses a team over money when negotiating a new contract. I don’t see any team agreeing to trade for him unless there’s an negotiable extension beforehand. Marketing man Arte would never trade him as he’s guaranteed large crowds every night. Another bonus with Ohtani is he saves a roster spot for another bat or pitcher. Given the time involved to sell a team and a possible new owner, I can see a team like Seattle waiting until 2023 to make a play. Young team, now winning, no loss of prospects, west coast, big Asian community, and Ichiro still involved with the team.
Ohtani is New York bound period.
Ohtani is New York bound, period. $$ and playing with & making them a World Series winner (either team)
Ohtani chose the Angels because the team was open to him being a two way player and it was on the West Coast. Since the Angels decide where he goes (if they trade him this off season), then I think he’ll go to whatever team will give up the most prospects and best chance to extend. I’d imagine he would consider extending with the Dodgers, SD, Seattle, and SF. In that order.