As reported by numerous sources (including Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register), most of Shohei Ohtani’s belongings were removed from the superstar’s locker at Angel Stadium last night. The Angels are expected to provide an update on Ohtani’s status later today.
Following Friday night’s 11-2 loss to the Tigers, Angels reporters noticed many of Ohtani’s possessions either packed up or missing entirely. Team staff declined to provide answers, other than to state that more information would be made available on Saturday.
The AL MVP frontrunner has not pitched in a game since August 23 nor taken a plate appearance since September 3. He is dealing with a tear in his right UCL, which prematurely ended his season as a pitcher, and inflammation in his right oblique, which has kept him out entirely for the past 11 games.
When Ohtani initially suffered his oblique injury, manager Phil Nevin told reporters (including Alden Gonzalez of ESPN) that it was “just a tiny bit of inflammation,” and he did not expect Ohtani to require a stint on the injured list. However, he also acknowledged that oblique injuries “can be finicky at times,” so the Angels would take things day-to-day with their star player and not rush him back onto the field. It’s possible that the issue has turned into something more than just “minor” inflammation.
Earlier this month, Ohtani’s agent Nez Balelo said it was “inevitable” his client would require an elbow procedure to repair his UCL this offseason. Given the uncertainty surrounding Ohtani’s oblique injury, perhaps he and the Angels have decided to get an early start on such a procedure. The two-way star has made it clear on several occasions that he wants to play out the 2023 season. Still, the Angels are all but eliminated from postseason contention, and the sooner he addresses his elbow concerns, the more appealing he’ll be to potential suitors in free agency. If his oblique injury could keep him on the shelf for the rest of the season anyway, he might be wise to get his UCL fixed sooner rather than later.
That said, it remains unclear if Ohtani’s empty locker has anything to do with his oblique or his UCL; there could be an entirely unrelated explanation. However, considering the announcement expected later today, it feels safe to presume this is more than just routine clubhouse cleaning.
He got traded.
He wanted to see how many lameass attempts at jokes he could generate here.
He actually was like “when Tyler died I shoulda known better” and decided to clear out his locker at the joke of an organization he calls his multimillion dollar employer? Some would consider this a troll move even after the news of his strained oblique and the fact that he’s played his last game for the California Las Angeles Angel’s of Anaheim…. I mean he should have just know the whole organization was high when they didn’t even know where they were located at and he Still signs with this dumpster fire? Wow?
That’s the real joke? Anytime your organization employees people who get your players killed by pain killers… you know your organization is wack? How did they attract a talent like Ohtani? Oh yeah cause they got lucky and drafted a generational talent and have blown every legitimate chance to build around him after locking him up for ridiculous amounts, even for Colombian drug lords… so in a nutshell the Angel’s are lucky? And dumb… maybe young?
Does anyone know where AJ PRELLER is getting his money to pay his players from?
New GM of the Red Sox
News flash! Ohtani resigns with the Angels and Putin pulls his troops out of Ukraine!
He’s pregnant.
This is my favorite scenario listed.
He is retiring!
Baby Ori (pronounced Orree).
Ori Ohtani is delicious dipped in milk. That’s a gold mine marketing opportunity Shohei.
He’s decided to live in a van down by the river.
“Free Hugs Inside”
He bought the van from Fred Garvin.
Male prostitute.
I’m old enough to get that reference m, thank you very much.
Oh-Oh-Oh-tani
I work with the glasses on.
“I do work with the glasses and jacket.”
“That’s my rather elaborate network of trusses.”
Shohei is 35 and thrice divorced?
I would hope that it’s because he’s getting surgery on his UCL. The sooner it happens, the sooner he gets back to pitching.
I’m guessing it’s this but it would be hilarious if the angels waived him to get under the LT
Traded to the Royals for Hammerin’ Bob Hamelin
As dumb as that sounds, it wouldn’t surprise me at all.
But no team would claim him if he can’t play.
Ohtani is pulling a Mike Trout and quitting early.
Rendon smiled, knowing he wasn’t the punchline… for once.
Trout has zero pain tolerance.
That’s Rendon actually
he asked to be traded to a real contending team and the Angels refused insisting like they do every year they are a playoff team. Angels should have traded him before the season started for a great package of prospects but once again show they are a joke. How long before Trout ask to get out of there is the real question/
probably this off-season I would think, especially if a ohtani does leave I think trout is going to ask to be traded and of course the place he’s going to want to go is back home to Philadelphia
…
Trout didn’t quit, why don’t you try playing with yourself with a broken wrist! Your boy Ohtani quit on the team!
Eh. I like Trout but he’s soft.
The Angels are trash.
And the Mets are better?! They are out of the playoffs also.
They’ve been there more recently and more often, and they have a much stronger farm system than the Angels. Most teams have better farm systems than the Angels.
It’s reality. Deal with it.
If you are a NYMs fan, it is probably inappropriate for you to be busting on anyone. Almost $400m and in a race for the #5 pick?
Which teams I do or don’t follow don’t change the reality that the Angels are trash.
I didn’t make it so; I’m just saying it.
He got optioned to AAA. He just needs that last bit of development for the Arte’s World Series push next year.
Little League World Series that is.
I don’t care you you are or what injuries you have, you better hustle out those infield grounders.
There’s a lot of things the Angels don’t have an explanation for.
Sell the Team!
Naturally the Angels will handle this in a forthcoming, professional manner….
The brain trust is meeting now to formulate a carefully crafted message that will elicit the collective response from the fan base, “Oh, THAT makes sense! Thanks, Arte!”
He’s attending the ribbon cutting on the new Anthony Rendon sports medicine clinic.
I can’t take the Suspense
Oh well NOthtani
When Arte M said that he was selling the LAA most fan of team like my self were Happy and Thankful.
However when greedy Arte could not find some sap to pay him 4 Billion dollars he took his ball and bat and went home to mommy.
I think this club Is In Hell with no release till the club Is sold
#sad disappointed LAA fan
At least your owner tried to win… Tiger fans have to just sit around and watch AAAA players try and get their mojo back.
Tigers fans were spoiled when Mike Illitch poured his personal fortune into the team trying to win.
Absolutely… an owner that was proud of showing off what he had. Now his wife is in charge and she’s counting every penny. His son is supposedly in charge but you know he listens to his mommy.
And hired rookie manager Brad Ausmus to skipper that super team.
I was hoping Leyland had left a year earlier and they hire Francona.
Tigers are in a MUCH better position, both short and long term.
Avila’s draft picks and trades are starting to bear fruit.
And, Scott Harris is building on that.
Arte is trying to win.
But, he does not let his Front Office do their jobs.
He meddles too much in baseball Ops with bad results.
Trading Ohtani at the deadline would have landed a boatload of top young players and promising prospects from a team looking for that one last piece for a Championship.
Arte doesn’t have to sell at all, he just has to keep the team to make people like you pissed off and laugh every day. Look at his net worth he doesn’t need the money!
This seems like a sure sign he’s soon headed for surgery on his UCL. There’s no reason really not to at this point.
Per the CBA, Ohtani can’t continue to serve as Anthony Rendon’s doctor while still with the team.
Arte making the wrong move at every turn. Showtime boxing up and heading to la county.
The Angels have always been dishonest about player situations. Sometimes players won’t play along with it, which could explain Rendon’s recent statements. With Ohtani, my guess is he figured he won’t play again this year and maybe has decided he won’t be an Angel next year. Either way, the Angels always leave the fans to speculate in lieu of the truth.
Bummer! Was hoping to see him bat more this season for my own selfish reasons.
Trout probably regretting he sold himself out for the huge contract, Angels are going to suck for years to come and they’ll probably never trade him.
I highly doubt Trout is upset with cashing that check every month.
I wouldn’t be so sure about that. Money is meaningless after a certain point. There’s literally nothing to spend it on that can bring anything of real value to your life. The best things in life are free.
But you wouldn’t actually know that unless you made that kind of money.
A world series win isn’t free.
How annoyed do you think he is living in Crystal Cove with a boatload of money at hand?
AB
Rich people can be annoyed
This has been a public service announcement.
Rich people let themselves be annoyed.
Mel
Or, they are humans and things happen to them that annoy them just like happens to everyone.
He’s the player to be named later in the ‘92 Dick Schofield to Mets deal
Or Joel Youngblood when he played for two different teams in one day
🙁
ummmmm what?
What the heck is going on with the Angels? What a mess! They need to let Ohtani leave, trade Trout, and just cut Rendon. Time to move on. Fire everyone. Or sell the team. (Or all of the above)
He went to Heaven along with Poochie from the Simpsons
Poochie never went to heaven. Stop misleading people
Poochie went somewhere
I am guessing he is going home.
He was seen in Japan already.
Interesting…..
Being an Angels fan is an abusive relationship at this point. At least the A’s are going to Vegas.
Too bad the fans lose out again not being able to say good bye, giving him a standing O, holding signs up thanking him for the years in Anaheim.
I’m sure he will never see this but Thank You Shohei!!!
Now Artie please follow Shohei pack up and sell the team.
He’s decided to go under the knife next week.
Gonna get himself healthy before joining the Dodgers.
That franchise is a bad sitcom come to life.
Arte seems to wrongly think baseball is like basketball. A couple of superstars and a supporting cast and you’ve got something. Ohtani is gone. Trout is breaking down. Rendon is just plain broken. The team is a hot mess.
He’s not the only one…..
Most of the posters on here think that way – and the writers perpetuate that thinking as they always pine for yet higher and higher salaries for name players. Think Mets, Yankees, Padres – this years teams with the highest payrolls.
Made too much sense. The Angels ownership doesn’t have much of that on hand.
As bad as the cloud surrounding the players is, the doom in the business offices is worse. It feels like everyone is terminally ill. Lots more drama and changes coming….
Clearly saying the Front Office is terminally ill is an understatement……more likely they are brain-dead….the only explanation.
M.C.Homer & vinc3nt3;
These ridiculous moves are obviously on Arte. He continues to micro-manage. The FO is simply following his dictates.
–
Perry Minasian has done a remarkable job as Angels GM. The same as he did as an Ass’t GM with the Braves. His former boss in Atlanta – Alex Anthopoulos – had a similar experience in Toronto. Mark Shapiro came in above him as Team President. Admonished Anthopoulos for his actions in a meeting with other Jays higher-up’s, then offered Anthopoulos a chance to stay on as GM. Of course Anthopoulos refused and resigned. Went to work as a Dodgers consultant for a year or two. The Braves GM position came open. They interviewed a lot of people, than hired Anthopoulos. The Braves have literally done nothing but make smart baseball moves since he’s been there.
Meanwhile, the Jays went through a multi-year rebuild. They have 4 position players that were developed by the team – Kirk and Jansen (both catchers), SS Bo Bichette and 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27 years-old and regressing). None of their starting pitchers were home-grown, not sure if even one of their bullpenners was (and their bullpen has been a weakness for years). All the Jays do every off season is sign or trade for expensive veterans to “fill holes”, as they slowly get worse and worse while they spend more and more (currently fighting for the 6th playoff position in a 15 team league). Meanwhile, the Braves continue to both develop young impact players and use their farm system to trade for more young veterans. They’re now arguably the best organization/team in MLB (may well have passed the Astros) winning 6 straight NL East titles and one World Series Championship.
–
Point being that there is nothing at all wrong with Perry Minasian and most of his staff. Mr. Minasian needs to get out of there even if it means taking a step back as Alex Anthopoulos did. Somewhere out there will be an owner smart enough to realize how good this man is; will give him a budget and a multi-year contract, then leave him alone to make baseball decisions to hire who he wants and draft / acquire players that he wants (he could very possibly run the Astros). If the team is not a contender now, it may take a few years, but that franchise will have a quality baseball organization with a sustainable contending team for at least 5 years.
All the Jays do every off season is sign or trade for expensive veterans to “fill holes
=============================
RS $2.42M in player contracts per million spent
BJ $2.50
I’m not saying that they are badly run, but the cracks are definitely starting to show.
Your sarcasm aside.
I’m not talking baseball ops, never see those people, do they exist?
I’m talking the business side of things.
Everyday people running the stadium
Just 1.8 WAA (wins above average) ahead of Seager… will be interesting what happens here
We already know what will happen.
One can still hope. The Hank Aaron Award is for the best hitter, and the MVP is for the most valuable. That does have vague interpretations. Rememeber the Judge vs Ohtani, Cabrera vs Trout, Braun vs Kemp, and Braun vs Posey (to a lesser extent) votes? Seager just needs those “batting average is everything” guys to help him out if they haven’t gone extinct already.
Never happen. How many games did Seager pitch? Everyone knows MVP is really for the best player. No one on the planet is close to Shohei. Love Seager, but it will be unanimous.
CLAIMED ON WAIVERS BY THE A’s
Imagine
He’s going to Disneyland!
The Angels are trying everything they can to gain ‘Worst Run Franchise’ status, if they haven’t already. It’s almost like they go out of their way to show their fans they hate them. No goodbye for Ohtani, probably the same for Trout. No matter who is right or wrong in the Rendon situation, it’s still a stain on the team. Nevin saying Neto and o’Hoppe bring leadership that ‘wasn’t here before’ (because he sure isn’t providing it,) and Carpino booting reporters off the local radio station for being ‘too negative.’ I haven’t even mentioned the whole Skaggs tragedy! These last several years have truly been some of the most embarrassing and downright horrific for any franchise.
John fisher says that is my honor this year by signing a deal with Vegas even though I have no money to build a stadium or care if my team is the worse.
Yes, John Fisher is terrible – but he’s not the first owner to pull something like that and won’t be the last. However, I can’t think of a franchise that has had this many issues, on and off the field, in such a short amount of time. The Rendon situation, the Ohtani situation, the Skaggs tragedy, the clubhouse attendant controversy, issues with local reporters, issues within their minor league system, the list goes on! Oh, and on top of all that, the team has been absolutely terrible for years despite actually trying to be competitive. I honestly can’t think of any franchise that can compare.
The Angels have been in the playoffs once since 2009.
The A’s have been in the playoffs 6x.
I read a report that he’s already flown back to Japan.
He’s moving back to Japan and playing in the Japanese league next year
Just go ahead and forward the mail and any belongings to 1000 Vin Scully Ave. Los Angeles CA 90012
He took his ball and went home.
There’s no pressure to win as an Angels player. Trout and Ohtani have put up video game stats for terrible teams…that’s great but give me a gritty player that gets hits when it really counts in October. When Ohtani signs with the Dodgers we’ll really see what he’s made of. Maybe he can continue two-way stardom but only time will tell.
Trout and Ohtani have never played a full season together.
There is no suspense or shock to this. My dude has been waiting for 3 years to gtfo from that organization. He’s prolly headed to his house in Seattle. ♂️
Another thing they handled horribly. The Angels need to clean house and hire the right guy to start refilling the house. Perry is not that guy.
That guy should also be left alone by Arte to do his job.
They probably designated him to see if anybody would pick him up for 12 games so they could dip under the luxury tax lol. I’m kidding but honestly they’ve done some wacky things so who knows
Maybe he is quiet quitting…
He’s gone on a darkness retreat.
He’s joining the new season of Terrace House
All of this speculation when it clearly says an announcement is forthcoming.
How about we actually wait for that?
no
hg
hot taek culture won’t allow for waiting for more information.
I wonder if we’re going to see more late season tanking like the 2023 Angels in the MLB Draft Lottery era.
He got raptured. The only one to be raptured. the end is nigh
Shut him down and get whatever surgery is necessary now so he can start rehabbing for next season
just getting used to the inevitable
Wow the huge peanut gallery here may have this take completely wrong.
Shohei wanted to finish the season out of loyalty , but Angels said. .. it’s ok Sho , you don’t owe us anything , don’t risk it. Get it done now and be healthy for next season. With us or not.
If that’s what happened they would’ve said so. They literally said “no comment” instead.
He realized after playing in the WBC and now the MLB that Japanese baseball is a higher level of baseball and doesn’t want to waste his time in a low level baseball league.
Done for the year and his contract is up. Not rocket science.
How is there news of him cleaning out his locker but no one knows why? Seems like fake news
Confirms to the World the completely dumb*** decision by Are Moreno
not to trade Ohtani @ “peak value” @ the major league trade deadline.
The Angels could have landed a boat load of top young players and prospects
to help them contend for a decade and gave the acquiring team the inside track
on resigning Ohtani for a long term contract deal.
Moreno is showing his fans and the World more reasons every day why he is not cut out to be an effective MLB Owner.