The Angels are not going to trade Shohei Ohtani before Tuesday’s MLB trade deadline, a source confirmed on Monday.
Speculation about an Ohtani trade ran rampant throughout the industry because the Angels are out of the playoff race and Ohtani is a free agent at the end of the 2023 season, but there was never any indication from within the organization that a deal was likely.
The Angels’ philosophy throughout Arte Moreno’s tenure as owner has been to try to compete every year, although they’ve often failed. Even in their bad seasons, they have not traded players who they believed could help them win in the following season.
Ohtani certainly falls into that category.
The two-way star is the Angels’ best pitcher, with a 2.81 ERA in 17 starts. He has also hit 22 homers with an .847 OPS. The reigning AL MVP is among the top candidates to win the award in 2022.
The New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox and San Diego Padres were among the teams that reportedly made serious offers to the Angels for Ohtani.
Of course, the questions about Ohtani’s future have not ended. The issue is certain to arise again this winter, particularly if the Angels are unable to reach a deal with Ohtani that would keep him in Anaheim beyond the 2023 season.
It’s difficult to know what type of contract Ohtani, 28, would want, but it could be for more than $40 million per season. He’s eligible for arbitration in 2023, and will most likely end up with a one-year salary of more than $25 million.
If the Angels can’t sign him, they’ll again face the question of keeping him and trying to win with him for one season – and perhaps then convincing him to re-sign – or trading him before the start of the 2023 season.
An offseason trade could be more palatable for the Angels. At that time, players who are already established in the majors would be easier to acquire, because their current teams would have time to replace them. A midseason deal would most likely be for prospects.
General Manager Perry Minasian is expected to address the media after Tuesday’s 3 p.m. PT deadline.
The Angels still could swing other deals, with right-hander Noah Syndergaard as the most likely player to be traded. Syndergaard is a free agent at the end of this season.
