10:14pm: An Angels’ official confirmed the team’s plans to retain Ohtani and add to the roster when speaking with Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. “Arte is committed to making a run this season, along with having Angels fans see Ohtani through September and hopefully into October,” the person told Fletcher. “The best way to try to make the postseason is through addition, not subtraction.”
8:53pm: The Angels have decided to take Shohei Ohtani off the trade market, reports Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated. According to Verducci, the Halos determined on Wednesday afternoon they were committed to buying in advance of next Tuesday’s deadline.
Earlier this evening, Robert Murray of FanSided reported the Angels were engaging other teams about adding MLB talent. That’d certainly suggest they were trending towards buying, though Verducci’s report indicates far more definitively that’ll be the case. Verducci writes that adding a starting pitcher and bullpen help are the priorities for the Halos over the next six days.
A slump early in the month — coinciding with a number of injuries, none more notable than the hamate fracture suffered by Mike Trout — led the Halos to at least consider other teams’ overtures on the two-way star. According to Verducci, preliminary talks didn’t result in any momentum towards a deal.
Ohtani briefly appeared in trade rumors at last summer’s deadline as well. Halos’ owner Arte Moreno quickly stepped in to quash that possibility. It stands to reason Moreno was involved in the decision to pull Ohtani from the market this time around, though it’s also worth noting a recent run of strong play has pulled the club back into contention and makes that course of action justifiable from a pure baseball perspective.
Los Angeles has taken seven of their last 10 games, pulling three games above .500. They’re four games out in the Wild Card race (with the Red Sox and Yankees also between them and the final playoff spot, currently held by Toronto). Los Angeles is 6.5 games back of Texas in the AL West.
Barring injury, the 2021 AL MVP should shatter the record for largest contract in MLB history when he hits free agency next winter. Ohtani is amidst one of the best seasons ever, hitting .299/.398/.668 with a league-best 36 home runs while pitching 111 2/3 innings of 3.71 ERA ball.
It is generally expected the eventual free agent megadeal will come from another organization, though the Halos will obviously attempt to make a run at re-signing the game’s best player. If he departs in free agency, they’d recoup a draft choice as compensation. If the Halos don’t exceed the luxury tax this year, that pick would come between Competitive Balance Round B and the third round in the 2024 draft. If the Angels do go past the $233MM tax marker, the compensation pick would fall after the fourth round. Roster Resource presently calculates the club’s CBT figure right at that threshold.
Clearly, the Angels could do far better than that in a prospect return this summer. Yet doing so would’ve more or less waved the white flag on the team’s efforts to snap an eight-year postseason drought. With the playoffs still within reach, it seems the focus is on loading up for a run in what could be Ohtani’s final season in Orange County.
Turning to the Halos’ target areas, bolstering the pitching staff is logical. Their rotation ranks just 20th in ERA, allowing 4.62 earned runs per nine innings. Ohtani is the club’s only starter with an ERA below 4.00. Reid Detmers, Patrick Sandoval and Griffin Canning have all been fine, with the former’s 29.4% strikeout rate suggesting he has probably deserved better than a 4.38 ERA. The Angels prefer a six-man staff to keep Ohtani’s workload in check and the final two spots haven’t been as effective as anticipated.
Offseason signee Tyler Anderson carries a 5.18 ERA in his first 17 starts as an Angel. José Suarez had a disastrous first month and has been out for a couple months with a shoulder strain. Jaime Barria has been more effective as a multi-inning reliever than when pressed into rotation duty.
The bullpen also ranks 20th in run prevention, sporting a 4.18 ERA. Free agent signings of Carlos Estévez and Matt Moore have worked out brilliantly thus far. That duo and Barria are the only relievers with 10+ frames and an ERA below 3.00, however. José Soriano and Jacob Webb have missed a decent amount of bats (Soriano in particular) but haven’t thrown strikes consistently.
Specific targets for the Halos aren’t clear, though potential trade candidates on the pitching staff have been covered extensively. Jordan Montgomery, Lucas Giolito, Jack Flaherty, Lance Lynn and old friend Michael Lorenzen all look likely to move. Marcus Stroman and Eduardo Rodriguez could be dealt. On the relief front, Scott Barlow, David Robertson, Joe Kelly, Kyle Finnegan and Chris Stratton are among a host of names who could change teams.
Speculatively, the Angels could also use some offensive help. They’ve patched over some infield injuries with early acquisitions of Mike Moustakas and Eduardo Escobar, but first base has been a revolving door all season. Brandon Drury could fit there once he returns from a shoulder contusion, but he’s better suited for a multi-positional infield role. Trout’s injury has pushed Mickey Moniak into unexpected center field work. The former first overall pick has hit exceptionally well to cover for that loss, though, and Verducci writes the Angels expect Trout back by the middle of August.
Until 5:00 pm CST on August 1 passes, other clubs and their fanbases might hold out a small amount of hope about the Halos having a change of heart. Perhaps losing four or all five of their remaining games before the deadline might affect the organization’s thinking. Yet it seems they’re fully committed to buying right now, and Ohtani’s impending free agency means there should be urgency for the front office to strike boldly for upgrades to help that playoff push.
Wow! Really?!!
He was never on the market.
On the free agent market: 11 years, $451 million.
12/650
10/1 Billion.
123/4567
Move up 2 numbers for an 11 year contract. As in 651 mil…. no way he goes under 500
8 years $440 Million. Wearing Dodger blue.
9 years/ $540MM. Team option with $15MM buyout. Staying with the Angels. Hard to imagine them throwing that money but it’s just my gut feeling.
8/675,309
The money will likely be upwards of $600m. The interesting thing will be how the contract is structured. If it goes for beyond 12 years Manfred will probably not allow it. He was going to disallow the Dodgers (?) bid for Judge because it was for too many years.
Who knows? We’ve thrown some stupid money at some bad contracts (with far lesser talent). Ohtani and Trout in the same lineup is lethal to opposing pitchers, yet exciting for fans. Hope he can stay.
The Angels have had both players in their lineup and still have not made the playoffs. They need to build up the team with solid prospects and players. Big mistake not trading for good prospects. He walks in the post season and Arte will look like a fool.
I think he was on the market but the Angels were not getting the offers they wanted to justify trading him.
Because they were stupid and didn’t give him up last year. The only way a team is giving you a good offer now is to extend him before a trade and he isn’t doing that. If he wants money or to win he is leaving.
Stymeedone I’m aware of that. My comment was sarcasm.
When I first signed up for this site, I remember a thread where people were saying when leaving a first comment, it should say ‘wow!’. Then I was reading other people saying that annoyed them. Following a trend, but not wanting to type anything inflammatory, I wrote it like that.
That didn’t take long. Halo’s are going for it.
Michael Scott Gif
That’s what she said.
Shurrr they are!
going for what?
You’re right. The Angels just got Giolito and Lopez from the Sox for two prospects. As expected, Hahn got rid of two of our best pitchers for just two nobodies. Let the full rebuild begin!
It’s simply what a competent front office would leak to the press to extract every ounce of value… “You’ll have to overpay to get him” – perhaps no one will.
People think that front offices are always 100% honest with journalists
I agree, I think the way they are looking at it is he’s available but they aren’t just going to give him away. Teams are going to have to come up with 3 to 4 of their top prospects. I know everybody thinks that no team would do it for a rental, but from the Angels perspective why trade away the best player in baseball for 1 or 2 top prospects when one or both of them could be a bust. It’s not worth it otherwise and at that point you might as well go all in. As of right now they aren’t that far out, but they have to play some very good teams.
Lol, like I said on yesterday’s extra long Ohtani trade article for something that’s “Not Happening”!
“Angels Reportedly Take Shohei Ohtani Off Trade Market.”
When did they ever even hint that he was on it?
The media – including MLBTR – got their clicks.
It’s very easy to fool sportswriters. An owner or GM can float a name and the reporter would write about it. Like, Angels listening to trade offers for Ohtani. No they’re not but they use the media to see what the response will be. They’re using the writers, who become tools. On the other hand an experienced writer knows they are being used. However, their hands are tied. If they don’t write it, someone else will.
If the Angels don’t trade Ohtani your team will be worse off for it. You have to understand that.
If the Angels were 4 games out and decided to go for it, they would trade FOR Ohtani. STFU
No, he’s right.. the Angels won’t ever resign him.. end of story…. he WILL land somewhere else. He wants to win.. he also realizes that he won’t win with the Angels. So, basically, the play is for the Angels to not trade him (they could get a truckload for him) hold on to hom for the rest of the season, sign some other BS that won’t work out before the deadline and then Ohatani walks for a draft pick??? See, that’s why he will leave.. he doesn’t speak English and even he knows the Angels are stupid
He does speak English. Nice of you to include your IQ after your user name.
Mr. Madison, what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
I think Ohtani already knows where he wants to go or if he wants to stay. If he can lead the Angels into the PO and with Trout missing a significant amount a time, it will have to be quite satisfying for Ohtani. His efforts would be what got them there. It would be his team. Why walk away when you’ve started your team to what could be steady improvement each year in the PO? Just a theory.
? Buuuttttt the Angels are four games out with Ohtani on their current team. They aren’t getting two Ohtanis by hanging on to him. It’s not the same as, say, the Mariners adding him. I’m thrilled they’re going for it, but your logic is off.
He chose the Angels once already so obviously he saw something he liked in the organization. As far as this “he wants to win”, everyone does. And yes he said it during WBC, but that’s also exactly what he was supposed to say. For all we know he very well may believe in his teammates and have a sense of camaraderie and want to stay and win with them.
The reality is none of us now how he truly feels or how confident Angels are that they can resign him.
ACTUALLY, he doesn’t. He not only uses a translator with the press and media interviews but also in the dugout, because he can’t understand his teammates.
Sometimes Japanese players use translators because they are embarrassed by how poor their English is but Ohtani can’t speak or understand it.
Sorry Bart, but it appears your IQ is even lower than the guy you snapped at. lol.
Everybody is pissed that their team can’t acquire the modern day equivalent of Babe Ruth! If your team was only 4 games out of the wild card would U not try to trade for Ohtani? Prospects are just that and 9 out of 10 don’t become MLB Stars! Ohtani is the biggest star the game has ever seen and to give him up would be crazy! Add at the deadline and go for it! If they make the playoffs the Angels have a good chance to resign especially because they stayed loyal to him regardless of the potential prospect return they lost out on!
Babe Ruth wishes he was as good as Ohtani
They won’t offer anywhere close to what he will elsewhere and not resign. Your owner screwed you, you guys have Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle of our generation and can’t make it to the playoffs.
All this to lose him for nothing. I know he brings the fans to the seats, but now you have no future. Could’ve gotten a big haul for him. Such a sad little franchise
LOL!
Go all-in at the deadline? Empty out what’s left in the farm and go for it, this may be the last best chance they have at a WS.
I wouldn’t say it’s their last chance. They do have a solid base and Ohtani’s $30 mil salary this year can go a long way to building the team.
You spelt best case WC exit incorrectly.
That $30m salary doesn’t buy a free agent league leader at 36hrs with games left in July, plus a free agent 3.xx pitcher. You’d suspect he winds up with 50-something HRs while hitting for good average and not leading the league in strikeouts.
The savings when he leaves won’t be enough to replace what he gave.
They’ve had no future
They are in a better wild card positions than some teams that are buying so I would say go for it
Those other teams have a better TEAM, the angels have the greatest player ever helping them
This assumption of him not signing sounds a whole lot like when Dodger fans were punching the air that they were certain he was coming there (same with Mariners fans).
Big haul? He’s a rental. Think the return the Nats got for Scherzer and Turner. Gray and Ruiz. That’s it.
Ya.. but he isn’t Scherzer, he isn’t Turner….. the Nats took what they thought they could get. This kid is Scherzer and Turner wrapped up into one. He’s actually Scherzer+ and almost Judge offensively… he’s gonna land this:
Teams top 2 prospects (will habe to be a great farm system)
MLB pitcher (doesn’t have to be a great one)
4 more top 100 prospects
That will get you the rental. The question is, what team pays it?
Scherzer had better pitching #s when traded as a rental, and Turner had an extra season of control. That’s all Ohtani should pull, max. Is what it is.
“he’s gonna land this:
Teams top 2 prospects (will habe to be a great farm system)
MLB pitcher (doesn’t have to be a great one)
4 more top 100 prospects”
–
Amazing!
LOL
Not sure I’ve ever read a post here that’s so deranged.
All that for 2 months of player?
Do you have any idea of the time, manpower and money and it takes to even have one top 100 prospect in a farm system?….and the time, manpower, and money that’s put into finding, signing, and developing players that never even do decently in the high minors?
P.S. Ohtani! is a rental. What happens if every time he bats the opposing manager signals to the umpire that he’s intertidally walking Ohtani!.
You going to give all that up for 2 months of a hitter that can have the bat taken out of his hands, and isn’t exactly throwing perfect games and shutouts very SIX games he pitches?
The crazy hype is silly. GMs aren’t dumb anymore. Prospects are valuable.
I get what you’re saying about it being moronic for a team to give that much for Othani, and I would never think that would make sense, but what are you going on about it being so hard to have a top 100 prospect?? That means basically nothing. If you draft in the top half, your pick should become a top 100 prospect. Sign good international guys, one can break out. See tons of them that flame out because they have a limited skillset, injuries, etc.
I’ll stand by my Scherzer+Turner for Keibert Ruiz and Josiah Gray comp.
He’s had a bad July on the mound with an ERA of 7.71 for the month. That will scare teams away thinking his finger is an ongoing problem. At the moment he’s average from the mound, not an ace.
None. Why pay such a high price of prospects, veterans or a mix when Ohtani will be available when the season ends? A team can sign him without emptying their farm system which is good because after signing him, they won’t have the money to buy anyone else.
It’s not like Ohtani just got good. Opposing managers could have intentionally walked Ohtani every AB since he arrived from Japan, but they haven’t. Why didn’t every team IB Judge last year? It puts your team in the hole by putting a man on base. Pitchers WERE able to get Judge out. As I recall, he didn’t hit .800 last year.
I’m pretty sure that teams would be far more Likely to trade for him if he is getting intentionally walked ever plate appearance. I’ll take a guy with a 1.000 OBP, best lead off hitter in history.
says the dodgers fan looking for a ohtani trade/signing.
Angels may get a truck load full of todd van poppels. im reading whats being offered are top org prospects, not top mlb prospects.
Its a crapshoot. Angels get rebuilt like the rangers did with texiera or last place with busts.
And all of the baseball journalism world let out a collective F—!!!!
“How are we going to eat now?” – Heyman and Feinsand probably
Easy for Heyman, he will just continue to post made up and non-fact checked “leads”, as long as he is first!
I mean doesn’t Scott Boras feed Heyman???
As an angels fan… boooo!!!
You have to see how it plays out Phatt. Playoffs or if they resign him, then it’s the right move. Only time will tell.
The Angels have the longest playoff drought of any team in baseball. He’s not coming back man. LA is great but the team is a mess.
As an Angels fan..;. Yay!!!
That’s so stupid of them
I doubt he was ever on the trade market to begin with.
True this, only by miracle some team knocked there socks off.
Not surprising. As good as Ohtani is, he’s a two month rental. Angels will probably be looking for loads for him and they’re just not going to get that.
But honestly why not even settle for a lesser package? You’re losing him for nothing anyway.
The optics of a Shohei Ohtani trade for a weak package would make the Angels look inept even if it was the best they could get given that he’s a rental. Moreno also probably didn’t want to be remembered as the owner who traded away one of the best players of all time even if he signs elsewhere in free agency and Angels get nothing in return.
No… instead… He’ll be the owner that had Ohtani and Trout and 1) couldn’t make the playoffs and 2) watched Ohtani leave for no return.
They’ll get a draft pick, which is not nothing.
Maybe the Angels don’t feel they’re “losing him for nothing”. They will be in the free agent mix for him and must be counted as one of the few favorites to sign him. If they lose him, they end up with a comp pick (late first round pick) which might be as good as a prospect they were being offered in trade scenarios.
Comp pick after 4th round
He probably generates more marketing and revenue than the prospects are worth. They may sign him. People are creatures of comfort and other than the playoffs LA seems like the ideal place. If some way they make playoffs and get some home games that is more valuable than any possible return. All unlikely except the first sentence but needs factored in.
It’s about perceived weakness that may linger on. Maybe, the front office doesn’t want guys to think they can be waited out and “beat.”
Why not settle for a lesser package? Because as others said, Ohtani is worth much more. Yes, they could get something back but they’re better off letting him walk and possibly resigning him if they get the chance. No team can meet the price tag for a 2 month rental, nor would they want to.
Exactly. I don’t even know why people assume the angels would accept minor leaguers for him. They want star ML players in return, like Corbin Carroll or Vlad Guerrero jr.
Smoke screen by the LAA watch he trade at last minute.
I doubt it.
Not unless they lose all 5 games before the deadline.
Why would they even need a smokescreen. Openly shopping him and having more teams involved in the mix would be far more beneficial than doing something last minute.
Good, I was scared we were gonna get crazy. Lets all move on now
Unless he had a 72 hour signing window, Texas didn’t need him.
Don’t be so upset guys. Your team will have their chance in the offseason and won’t have to give up their future for it either.
Very few teams will realistically have a shot at signing Ohtani.
Wasn’t going to be traded but wish he was. The media and fans fantasy trade returns were hilarious. Wanted to see the humiliation.
Only to see him walk in free agency LOL wow
Who says he’s going to leave?
If he’s staying, and I’m sure theyve had this conversation to no end, why not trade him for a haul and bring him back once he’s a FA and come back to an even better situation? Not trading him makes zero sense.
I had this thought. The logic behind the move not to trade him is questionable at best
Who says they can’t bring him back if they do trade him?
> Who says he’s going to leave?
> Who says they can’t bring him back
OriginalDodger did.
OriginalDodger did.
Just when you could overhaul the franchise you make this boneheaded move…smh…
Is it really an overhaul if you keep the same front office?
Its not a front office problem. It’s an Arte Moreno problem.
How’s that overhaul working out for the Tigers? When they traded Verlander. Oh the best player they got, is a back up catcher. Or the load the Rangers got for Darvish? Oh wait. Trading a star player, when you have no shot to even make a Wildcard. Yes do it. But let’s not all pretend, that any much less all those prospects, ever live up to their expectations.
To be fair, it’s the most difficult deadline decision ever. Only hindsight can really determine if this was the correct decision.
Actually, Rogers is the starting C, but your point is made. Still, unlike Verlander, Ohtani doesn’t get to pick his spot to be traded to, as he has no right to refuse, so Angels can take the best offer, unlike the Tigers.
Trading one veteran is not the same as overhauling a team. What the Astros did and what the Orioles are currently doing is a rebuild, but you’re right it doesn’t always work out. Bigger market teams like the Angels are more resistant to going through rebuilds — even the Orioles were for years.
This was a no win situation. Trade him and your fans revolt… keep him and get nothing, the fans revolt next season. The only way to survive this is to make the playoffs and sign him to an extension. Good luck with that.
The only thing revolting is Arte Moreno!
Correction: the Israelis are revolting.
Ohtani is such a great guy you have to be all in with him. I get fans of other teams are upset or have their jokes etc. Add Angels fans are frustrated, but he’s the best chance to be successful and force everyone to give as much as he does. Him and Trout in the playoffs is good for baseball. Manfred isn’t going to grow the sport so let two iconic gentleman do it.
IF they even make the playoffs! Ohtani wants to be on a contender not on the fringes of contention
Ohtani said over the weekend that he wants to win in the postseason “with the Angels”. Read the LA Times article.
What do you expect him to say? “I’m going to the highest bidder, because I can’t stand this place.” He’s smart enough to know that it’s bad pr to throw your current employer under the bus.
Grumpofm;
He’s been around for 5-plus years. He didn’t have to say anything.
I’m beginning to think he’ll resign with the Angels.
He might. If he leaves, I bet he writes a letter thanking the Angels for giving him the opportunity to become a major league star. Everything I’ve heard about him say’s he has class, and that’s a classy move.
He could have said, “I just want to win, whether with the Angels or another team.”
But he didn’t. He was very specific about wanting to “win with the Angels.”
“Manfred isn’t going to grow the sport so let two iconic gentleman do it.”
Omarj;
Manfred has grown the sport.
A LOT.
It’s why the owners extended his contract today.
At this rate, Mike might need to take up pitching, too.
Told y’all! Ohtani won’t be traded!!!!
brooklyn62;
Only the media said he was available.
It appears the Angles listened some but realized they weren’t going to get anything near “a haul”.
Only kids would have expected a team to give what the Padres did for 2-1/2 years of Soto for 2 months of Ohtani!…..
And that’s already proven to be a very bad trade for the Padres, with more pain to come in the future. But hey, they know better – 3rd in MLB team payroll dollars, 4th in the NL West.
It would be silly to put this out there right now if it is true. Looks like posturing to get better offers for him to me.
Precisely
No, the front office only gets burner phones and Arte told them he wouldn’t get them new ones when the minutes ran out so they needed to cut down the calls.
This isn’t news
Best news yet. I’m going to Jays game this Friday and I’d like my money’s worth (pitching and hitting)
Got bad news for ya, Ohtani’s pitching in Detroit tomorrow, so he wont be pitching in Toronto
He’s pitching in Detroit tomorrow, he wont pitch in Toronto this weekend
He won’t be pitching on Friday, as he’ll be pitching game 1 of a doubleheader tomorrow. The Angels didn’t want him pitching after a doubleheader.
We can both be happy he’s not being traded at least…
@Spaced-Cowboy – Good news for you. You’ll be watching Lucas Giolito’s Angel debut tomorrow.
At least just see what he would have brought in. The offer might have been too good to turn down.
Shows how incompetent the ownership and front office is
OriginalDodger;
Where did you get your inside information?
You have no idea in the world what went on behind closed doors.
They did listen. Must not have liked what they heard.
Gee, what a shocker.
Smoke if you got ’em.
Hope they hit on that comp pick then.
Anti Climatic
That’s why they suck. They sign Josh Hamilton, Albert Pulojs, Rendon. All terrible contracts.
Then they have a chance to trade Ohtani and rebuild their team.
Instead they stand to lose Ohtani for nothing.
What a poorly run team.
They actually have a chance to win this season with Ohtani and Trout. And they will be buyers looking to add pitching.
You seem very confident in that they would receive top prospects worthy of rebuilding the team. From all reports I read, teams were reluctant to part with their top prospects for a two month rental of Ohtani with a strong possibility of losing him over free agency.
They should have traded him last year. Look what the Nationals got back for Soto.
They should have traded both Ohtani and Trout and instantly got back some really good prospects. But they’re the delusional angels. What can you expect.
Last year might have made more sense to trade him than this year. In terms of a return package. I’ll give you that.
Mr big dig;
They should have rested Trout the day of the game he got injured in.
So they’ll lose him at season’s end for nothing but a chance to make the playoffs lol, good for us Mets fans so it’ll only cost us $$ next year lol
Funny that you think Ohtani would leave the Angels to sign with the NL version of the Angels. There’s a much higher probability that he resigns with the Angels over the Mets.
Dumbest move ever, he will walk and sign with the Dodgers in the off-season and now you will get nothing back in return. You’re not jumping over any of the AL East teams lol what a joke.
Giants lie in wait.
Since June 1st, the Angels have more wins, than the Yankees, Rey’s, and Roid Sox. Also hold tie breakers over the Roid Sox and Yankees. Now I’ll agree, they probably won’t jump over Toronto or Baltimore. But that’s only one Wild Card spot. Texas has less pitching than the Angels do.
Less pitching than the angels? riiiiiight
Hahaha
Was he ever on it?
I am happy he is staying because you can’t trade the face of the Organization
That would have been no Bueno
C’mon peeps, this was so predictable! No team is willing to give up the farm for 2 months of Ohtani. The Halos ride Ohtani’s back, squeak into the playoffs for the first time in years, lose in the WC round and Minasian looks like a hero by getting into the playoffs! Just like DiPoto did last year with the M’s.
You get it.
brooklyn62;
The national MLB media got their clicks. They’re irrelevant and 95% of the time publish and say things that are simply not true.
But it keeps interest in the game alive, sells tickets and merchandise. Win-Win.
Absolutely correct. What sane GM would give up their farm system for 2 months of Ohtani without any absolute guarantees of winning the WS and then resigning him.
And to think that a haul of prospects would significantly alter the franchise is unrealistic. .Prospects are just that, prospects.
I feel bad for whoever the Angels take with that comp pick, there is going to be a lot of unfair attention and pressure on that guy.
I remember when the Angels lost Teixeira to the Yankees, they used their comp pick to select some kid named Mike Trout.
Cool story, bro.
Technically true, but in context false.
It’s very well documented that Trout was higher on the Angels radar than Grichuk, had they not acquired Teixeira, the Angels still would have drafted Trout. The loss of K-Rod was the crucial piece in drafting Trout.
I predict that at least one sportswriter will still write a piece about how the Angels still should trade Ohtani. God forbid, a sportswriter should write a story about a player who they don’t consider to be a star. Might be too painful for them.
um…wow…I’m shocked and stuff.
Unless they truly believe they can resign him, this is terrible asset management.
Free Ohtani.
Worst 2 word take ever. Free a completely happy man. SMH
The Angels have won 6 out of 7, that took Ohtani off the market.
The Angels chances of retaining Ohtani are about the same as the Angels making a deep run in the playoffs. They were not going to trade Ohtani unless those odds were significantly less than they are now. And no, those odds are not zero.
Maybe those odds are 5%, but they were never going to trade Ohtani at those odds. The Angels are six games back of the Rangers in the loss column. No way they are going to trade Ohtani.
Angles gonna suck even worse for years to come.
Arte Moreno should just make himself the President of baseball operations and GM.Why even waste the money if you wanna make all the baseball decisions? He should start being a scout too since he gutted that department a couple years ago
Good now maybe the trades will start flowing
Finally Moreno and Minasian made a decision and are no longer dictating the trade deadline. Teams can now focus on making deals to better their teams.
Moreno and Minasian now control their own fate and lose Ohtani to free agency.
Delusional. Enjoy the comp pick.
Moreno is a marketing guy. I’m sure the hint of an Ohtani trade made him a fortune in the last month from the hype and attention it received. He was never going to trade Ohtani.
prov356;
?
Can you please explain how not trading a player he never said he was going to trade “made him a fortune in the last month from the hype and attention it received.”
How exactly did he get revenue out of that?
You have him confused with the national MLB media that said the Angels were either going to trade Ohtani! or were “listening to offers” – so they got a bunch of clicks and views …as they quoted one another. (Clicks and views are how those people get paid). I never believed there was any there there.
Good question Samuel. I’ll address just one revenue channel – I believe the rumor of him being traded increased merch sales alone because people would want their Ohtani stuff before he left the team. There are other ways, but that’s one.
That’s ridiculous.
Here’s one for you…..
The Angels have advertising all over and around their park that’s centered around Ohtan!. That includes for many Japanese companies. They also draw many Japanese people and Japanese-Americans into their park – and very few people buy tickets the day of the game anymore.
If the Angels trade Ohtani! before the end of the season, they’ve just alienated some of their fans and advertisers that may well be stuck paying for something that is no longer available. Furthermore, we have no idea the verbiage in the advertising contracts. It may well be that the deal is null-and-void if Ohtani! is traded. Either way, Arte / the Angels will have alienated both fans and advertisers for years to come. Keeping Ohtani! keeps them as future Angels fans….to say nothing of the pressure it would put on the 2-3 2nd rate prospects a 2 month rental would bring in.
Last thing – it would end any hope the Angels have of signing him in the future.
Once he’s traded, it all gets marked down. Plus why do I want the jersey of someone not playing for my team any more?
Samuel – “That’s ridiculous.”
Interesting take. We can disagree but personal insults are not necessary.
You make good points about advertising and alienation that I agree with, but no where did I see you refute my example. We don’t have access to the numbers, but I would bet Ohtani merch sales alone soared in the last 30 days. Moreno knows how to make himself money.
A fool is about to give away a known winning lottery ticket.
Angels gotta Angel.
It’s truly one of the great mysteries of the universe how the Angels best season with Ohtani and Trout is being 4 games out of the 2nd WC at the trade deadline. The last 4 years are a master class in how to scree up a good thing.
I mean, even if there’s the smallest chance that he’d decide (as a FA) to remain with the Angels, wouldn’t even that tiny chance be potentially enhanced, if he saw the Angels actually get a decent haul for him at this year’s deadline?
I just cant see the rationale for not trading him – unless of course they feel strongly that they still have a real shot at the playoffs this year – which, to me, still seems like such a longshot.
So…maybe, they think they’re going to add enough significant pieces at the deadline themselves, to somehow turn this whole equation around? It all seems very dubious.
Good luck to you, Angels, you’re going to need a whole freakin’ lot of it.
@goob
Same thing could be said of the Yankees and Judge last year. He was a rental. He was leading the league in HRs. And they didn’t really look like they would go far in the playoffs (though they were assured of being in). They could have traded him “for a haul” and then still try to sign him in the off season. They didn’t. He ended up signing back. Don’t recall all the anguish for NYY fans. Now they are probably wishing they had traded him/not signed him.
The Yankees finished in first place last season by a comfortable margin. What first place team — especially the Yankees — trades their best hitter? But I can understand the Angels not trading Ohtani if they think they have any kind of chance at re-signing him. The biggest Japanese population in the US lives close to Angel stadium, which could go a long way to swaying him.
If they don’t trade him at the deadline, then the Angels should bolster the roster in the offseason as a way of showing Ohtani that they are serious and work out a contract for him. But I don’t know, Angels fans, you have a “unique” owner so who knows what will happen.
Unlike Pepper Brooks I do NOT feel shocked about this.
Must hold on to “the precious “…. till “the precious “ is lost….
LoTR
Arte is like my wife, always changing her mind on what dress to wear.
Next he will announce the team is for sell and in January decide against it.
Please pull up your skirt and let’s go!
Cardinal s have starting and relief pitchers
This can change, if it’s not simply posturing to get better deals. A competent GM should know that anything you get back in a trade for him would be more impactful and likely much higher in value than the pick you get when he walks as a FA.
It was fun to think about but the Angels were never going to trade him. Sell the fans on a possible wild card run, sell some more tickets and pretend they tried all they could to retain him in the off-season.
The Sho is over??~
Fools! Can’t get out of their own way.
Makes sense. The number of prospects needed to get this deal done would be astronomical, and nobody is truly that desperate for a rental, even someone elite like him. Angels are likely the favorite to resign him anyway, and deciding not to trade him shows some sort of loyalty which probably will play a role in his decision.
Basically no one wants to take the risk of him walking so the Angels weren’t getting any offers worth while to move him. If someone steps up between now and the trade deadline he gets dealt otherwise get ready for the free agent market to get blocked until Ohtani signs.
Goose;
The 2023-24 free agent market stinks other than Ohtani!.
Teams have learned to get the players they value under contract for the following year.
You have to figure half the league will be in on him and it is going to eat up a lot of payroll for small and mid market teams. The other free agents will be more an after thought. Two perfect examples are the Giants and Orioles. The Giants need more than one player but they will make a run out of the gate at Ohtani before they fill up their roster. The Orioles can make their run and if they sign him decide which prospects they want to run with.
If the GMs believe it is a weak free agent class then you may get more teams involved as Ohtani is going to be an historic signing. You get to add a star at two positions.
Sounds like a ploy to get the bids up higher. No smart team would stop listening to trade proposals to a star player that is at best 50/50 in resigning with them.
Angels should just give Ohtani the QO. I’m sure he’ll take it.
Is the QO jumping up to 1/125?
Think about this. Four games out, six and a half from 1st. What can they get to help them get over the hump. How about Drury? Perfect player to trade for, who we already have and he’ll be back soon. Maybe Rendon? I know his contract is trash, but we’re a little better when he’s healthy. Joyce and Bachman? What contender wouldn’t be trading for fireballers. How about a catcher? O’Hoppe might make it back soon. Oh, and how about Trout in September for the final push? We don’t need to trade for solid pieces. We’ve got solid pieces coming back from injury with Brandon Drury the most important piece. Look it up!! We’re solid with his bat in the lineup. If our inconsistent young pitchers can pitch like we’ve seen their capable, we could be in very good shape. Let’s not forget we won it all with Washburn as our Ace
I wouldn’t mind them adding finnegan or Robertson. The Tucker Davidson experiment is over, they essentially got Moore, and estevez for raisel iglesias salary wise, but definitely need to add someone to the bullpen. Where’s johnathan holder? Did he opt out.
Nothing to see here. All the hype artists, like Ken “let’s throw something at the wall and see if it sticks” Rosenthal just stirrin up the pot..
So you’re sayin the Hershel Walker trade of baseball isn’t happenin..
Their goal is to obviously re-sign him in the offseason. 500 million to not make the playoffs for another decade.
When the don’t re-sign him. Trout will request to be traded. This is stupid.
Trout’s contract is going to be a tough move with his injury history.
The cash cow was never going anywhere.
The Angels can be buyers all they like but they are not a playoff team.
The Angels remaining schedule after today is:
6 with the Rays
6 with the Rangers
6 with the Mariners
6 with the A’s
5 with the Tigers
3 with the Blue Jays
3 with the Braves
3 with the Astros
3 with the Giants
3 with the Reds
3 with the Mets
3 with the Phillies
3 with the Orioles
3 with the Guardians
3 with the Twins
That schedule is combined 77 games over .500 (806-729, aided heavily by the A’s) and definitely a very tough road ahead as many of those teams expect to make upgrades at the trade deadline
They’re not a playoff team? Ok, pal. They’ve scored the 3rd most runs in the AL and their biggest weakness has been the pen and despite that they’re still in the wild card hunt. If they can make a few trades before the deadline to add a an SP and maybe a couple of relievers, they’ll have as good a shot as anyone to make postseason.
Setzer;
Ahhhh, actually talking baseball?
They can still get a WC, but they’ll have to get past the Yankees and Blue Jays. 4 games. It’s July 26. That’s definitely possible.
In 2019 the Mets were well behind a playoff spot going into the trade deadline – which was held later in August or September than the current one. The rumors were that they’d sell. A week or so before the deadline the Mets GM announced that there would be no trades. The players psyched up themselves and made a run for a playoff spot. The fell short, but they may have played the most entertaining and hard-fought baseball I’ve seen as a team since then.
Your post is lost here with all the hand-wringing and delusional nonsense.
You’re totally correct – the Angels are hardly out of the 2023 playoff race. I hope they make it.
Bug off!
69 of the 77 games over 500 are from 3 teams. So the other 12 teams are combined 8 games over. At the moment the Angels are three over. Your stat does not tell the hole story.
I imagine NY, Boston, Tor have to play a similar schedule in terms of games over 500. I believe the Angels roster is better than both Boston and NY.
Anything can happen in the playoffs, look at the 2004 wild card Angels.
It’s probably their best move to keeping Shohei long term. They trade him and chances are he doesn’t re-sign in the offseason. Keeping him and making moves to improve the pitching before the deadline shows they’re committed to making a push for postseason and it shows Ohtani the FO’s commitment to winning. Not saying it’s a given he’ll re-sign with them anyways but their chances will be better to retain him.
Also, if the Angels were gonna trade him then they should have done it before the season started. That was their only chance to get a good haul of players for him. No team is going to decimate their farm system for a 2-month rental.
Moreno has massively increased his net worth without even trying to build a winning organization. Big $$$ for big names and penny pinching for scouting, farm teams, stadium staff, front office staff, etc. Yet fans still show up for games and watch on TV. His only priority is to make money and he has been successful at that. So, he has no incentive to change the way he does things.
A player cannot receive a piece of his team unless an exception is negotiated and approved by the commissioner. If a player then leaves his team for another during his contract he has ti give his % back at a negotiated price. Could Arte be considering this? Is this why Trout is content to remain with the Angels? Is Arte constantly testing the market in preparation to give Shohei a % of the Angels?
Have these guys ever made the right decision??
Amongst the 900 comments I just wanted to say there’s no way his FA contract is less than 10 years unless it’s an absurd overpay on like 4-6 years.
Yay….. let’s go Angels!!
“The best way to try to make the postseason is through addition, not subtraction.”
Woah can you dumb it down for us Oppenheimer?
That’s as eloquent as “it’s self-explanatory.”
And the Astros and Dodgers also want starting pitching, but have more prospects. Unless you cough up a Taylor Ward.
Foolish and the reason the Angel’s aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Angels current “warm” stretch is fool’s gold, just like the Padres and Mets. All three of those teams will try to add instead of sell and set themselves back for 2024 and maybe beyond because of their inability to grasp the realities of their fatally flawed rosters.
Go look at the 2019 Giants, the poster child for a bad team that had a great July, thought they were contender, bought when they should have sold, and wound up finishing 12 games out of the wild card.
This is YOUR fate, Angels fan.
What a waste of speculative energy for an outcome clear as day from the start. Ohtani wants to play for a playoff contender. Good for the Angels for going all in this trade deadline and making an attempt to keep him.
‘What does the Anaheim MLB team’s upcoming schedule look like?’ Thanks for asking:
Bluejays, Braves, Mariners, Giants, Astros, Rangers, Rays, Reds, etc. The Anaheim MLB team has no chance.
Bravo bold move there is a light at the end of this tunnel or at least a pot of gold.
You can’t trade the modern day Babe Ruth without unleashing a 100 year curse.
Tried to tell all you fanboys that he would not get traded. Nobody going to give up what the Angels are asking for.
And honestly, nobody should. If they want to keep Ohtani on a non-playoff team (or at best non WS contender) then go ahead.
But nobody giving up 5 prospects for a 1 year rental. Angels lost HUGE not trading him last year at deadline. Could have had 3 A prospects, 2 B prospects and a C prospect.
Now they will be stuck with a couple compensation picks. Congrats Angels, you are trash! 0% chance of resigning Ohtani for the Halos.
Damn. Can we please stop saying “Halos?”
Lame.
Good that way the Mets won’t have to lose any prospects when they sign him next year!
Look the Angels are about to sweep both ends of a doubleheader and it only took playing a bad team, while Ohtani threw a complete game one-hitter and hit two homeruns to make it happen! Looks like they finally figured out how to be a winning club with Ohtani!
I’ve been thinking a lot about Ohtani; I’d say, that, yes, you’d be getting two all-stars with him, and there’s ONLY upside to your rotation, bullpen & bench by having him. His presence does not force an extra Triple-A dude to the back of your pen; what it does is, moves your #5, 6, or 7 starter to the pen, and drops your worst pen option off the active roster. Same applies on offense to some extent – frees up your best extra guy for super-utility role, and you can drop your least viable quasi slugging 1st base/dh guy.
What your getting with him is David Ortiz, as one player, and – unless he keeps getting better, which he very well might, on the mound – you’re getting AT LEAST Charlie Morton or Yu Darvish.
The price tag on those two players that Ohtani represents currently sits somewhere between $42 & $50 million a year, I would say.
I think Angels should pony-up $ 520 to $600 million for 10-12 years on the dude, now.
/Ohtani take
@Astros Hot Takes
“What your getting with him is David Ortiz…’
Ortiz without the PEDs.
The Angels are not taking care of Shohei very well. He’s been tired for weeks. You can see it. Now he’s getting leg cramps. Better rest him, or the playoffs will mean nothing without him playing.