It sounds just like the Los Angeles Angels aren’t actively purchasing two-way celebrity Shohei Ohtani forward of the Aug. 1 commerce deadline but additionally have not closed the door on promoting him by early subsequent week.
“Entrance-office sources all through the trade mentioned issues had been quiet on the commerce entrance over the weekend, and plenty of of them have a tough time believing Angels proprietor Arte Moreno will commerce Ohtani within the first place — particularly because the group has discovered a solution to stay in competition with out Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon,” ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez reported on Monday. “However the Angels haven’t publicly declared that Ohtani will keep, so groups all through the game are making ready for the likelihood that he could be had.”
Trout hasn’t performed since he suffered a damaged bone in his left hand on July 3. In keeping with an ESPN replace shared Friday evening, he’s nonetheless on observe to overlook a complete of six to eight weeks.
Rendon, in the meantime, has been out since he went down with a deep bone bruise in his shin on July 4 that doubtless will keep him sidelined for at the very least a number of extra weeks of motion.
On Monday afternoon, insider Jon Morosi of MLB Network tweeted that “the Angels have communicated about Shohei Ohtani commerce eventualities with different groups in latest days.” Morosi added that “the potential of an Ohtani commerce stays.”
The banged-up Angels (51-49) are 6-3 because the All-Star break and started Monday simply four games back within the battle for a wild-card playoff spot. Ohtani, in the meantime, is ready to reach free company after this season and continues to be linked with big-spending golf equipment such because the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets.
Whereas it is unknown if Moreno will match Ohtani’s asking worth (or if Ohtani is fascinated about remaining in Anaheim) after the World Collection, Bob Nightengale of USA As we speak defined over the weekend that “the Angels do not intend to commerce Ohtani,” partially as a result of they earn “about $20M yearly, excluding ticket gross sales,” due to having baseball’s most marketable star.
No matter is and/or is not taking place behind the scenes, the clock is ticking for Moreno to make a remaining determination relating to Ohtani’s standing that can unquestionably affect the Angels for years to return.
