By Jangwon Seo = Shohei Ohtani, 29, Los Angeles Angels, has been one of the most talked about players in trade rumors in recent years. He’s eligible for free agency after the 2023 season, and it’s becoming more frequent as his contract with the Angels approaches expiration.
It has to do with team performance. The Angels have struggled to make the postseason despite having the best hitter in Major League Baseball (MLB) in Mike Trout alongside Ohtani. Ohtani hasn’t played fall ball since joining the Angels in late 2017.
Typically in MLB, teams that are unlikely to make the postseason look to the future by trading key players for prospects.
The Angels, who are perennially labeled as a last-place team, also face pressure from the local media to trade Ohtani every year.
On top of that, Ohtani is a free agent after this season. The local media believes it is highly unlikely that Ohtani will stay with the Angels.
If the Angels were to stick with him for the rest of the season and then let him become a free agent, they would have nothing to show for it other than a draft pick. That’s why there’s been a lot of talk about trading Ohtani to another team and getting a package of prospects to build for the future.
However, the decision to make a trade is ultimately up to the owner. Angels owner Arte Moreno has publicly stated on multiple occasions that he would not trade Ohtani. In fact, he has even expressed confidence in signing Ohtani to a free agent contract after the season.
Moreno’s no-trade policy is also supported by the fact that the Angels have not yet given up hope of making the postseason. The Angels are currently in fourth place in the American League West. They are seven games behind the first-place Texas Rangers. The added value of Ohtani cannot be ignored.카지노사이트
Nevertheless, the Ohtani trade is still a ‘hot topic’. Local reports suggest he could make a “surprise” in-season uniform change.
MLB.com reported on Thursday that “the New York Yankees are the most eager to trade Ohtani,” adding, “The Angels will be asked a myriad of questions about a possible trade as the trade deadline approaches. If Ohtani is traded, the Yankees are the first choice, followed by the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros.”
All three teams have the power to challenge for the pennant.
So why the Yankees as a priority? It’s the same old “win potential” story.
“The Yankees have several players in the prime of their careers, including Gerrit Cole, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton. Now is the time for the Yankees to win a championship.” The addition of Ohtani to the Yankees’ superstar-studded roster would certainly improve their chances of winning a championship.
As you can see, there will continue to be plenty of Ohtani rumors leading up to the trade deadline. It’s hard to predict what will happen next. The MLB trade deadline is August 1.