It seems as if baseball phenom Shohei Ohtani is staying put in Los Angeles ahead of the trade deadline.
The MLB trade deadline is just days away — 6 p.m. ET on August 1 — and the biggest rumored name is reportedly off the trade block. On Wednesday, Sports Illustrated‘s Tom Verducci reported that the Los Angeles Angels are going to keep Ohtani and make a playoff push with the star instead. As of Wednesday, the Angels are four games out of a wild card spot.
In their last 10 games, the Angels have gone 7-3 while teams like the New York Yankees and their recent struggles have opened a spot in the running. According to Verducci, the Angels are not only going to keep Ohtani, the team is set to be buyers at the trade deadline.
The Angels have reportedly taken Shohei Ohtani "off the trade market", per Tom Verducci. pic.twitter.com/drBh0XZrEF
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 27, 2023
Ohtani has been rumored out of Los Angeles for some time, given the Angels’ absolutely dreadful performance as a franchise in recent history. Despite the abundant talk of possible destinations for the superstar, it seems as if Ohtani is staying put as the Angels make a playoff push.
Of course, a playoff spot isn’t guaranteed, especially not with how log-jammed the wild card race is in the AL. And given that Ohtani is on a one-year contract, it’s possible that the worst case scenario comes to pass: that the Angels miss the playoffs and are unable to sign their star this offseason.
Not only were MLB fans hoping for complete chaos in the next week, the Angels are arguably better served trading Ohtani for a haul before possibly losing him for nothing this offseason. With this news, however, MLB fans roasted the Angels for reportedly taking Ohtani off the trade market.
This gonna be so funny when they finish 5 games back of a wild card spot and then lose him for nothing in the off-season https://t.co/MUGCk9I6Zw
— Branden Kozicki 🌵 (@branden_kozicki) July 27, 2023
Oh it’s gonna be so funny when they miss the playoffs and he walks for nothing other than a draft pick https://t.co/JV8ystOGbj
— Jimmy (@FlynnJimmy__) July 27, 2023
biggest fumble ever if he doesn’t resign https://t.co/tCvNMzw1Q0
— mentally ill phillies fan (@tristanwarwickk) July 27, 2023
feels like this guarantees the Angels miss the playoffs by a dozen games https://t.co/JhrtbZIyYb
— Ryan Nanni (@celebrityhottub) July 27, 2023
I'll never criticize a team for going for it.
But man, the Angels BETTER make the playoffs. The only thing worse than being known as the owner who traded Shohei is being known as the owner who had Shohei for six years, never made the playoffs, and never got anything for him. https://t.co/ZD4FayfC8l
— Max Mannis (@MaxMannis) July 27, 2023
I don’t think this is a smart decision man https://t.co/NO2z2NmJQV
— Dame Spillard (@iHitCurves) July 27, 2023
The Angels know they're not re-signing Ohtani but also don't want a massive trade haul. What a franchise https://t.co/aCljj5gr3j
— Andrew Joseph (@AndyJ0seph) July 27, 2023
Angels going to have a great time watching Ohtani walk for free instead of having a chance to get the biggest prospect haul in MLB history. https://t.co/bvr5e3q9wk
— Bryan Edwards (@baedwards16) July 27, 2023
gonna miss the playoffs and it’ll be the biggest mistake ever https://t.co/IhhArzMPUE
— meg (@yanks_meg) July 27, 2023
I don’t know man, I know he’s the best in the league and a generational talent, and I understand the Angels wanna win while he’s there but I can’t help thinking they should be trading him.
The return they’d get would be incredibly important for that franchise and their future. https://t.co/YPhJcEGbYS
— Johnny (@JaysHardo) July 27, 2023
