US Columnist “Angels owner doesn’t want to send team to same state”
If the Los Angeles Angels trade “baseball genius” Shohei Ohtani, 29, to the Los Angeles Dodgers, he will not stay in California.
“Even if Ohtani is moved before the trade deadline, he won’t stay in California,” New York Post columnist and Major League Baseball (MLB) Network panelist John Heyman said on Monday (Aug. 18).
“Owner Arte Moreno is reluctant to trade Ohtani to a team with California ties,” he said, “so I don’t see him going to the Dodgers.”
The Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants are among the teams with California ties.
Ohtani’s future is a hot topic. Ohtani’s contract with the Angels expires after the 2023 season, making him a free agent.
In MLB, it’s not uncommon for a team that’s struggling to make the postseason to trade a key player for a prospect to build for the future.
The Angels haven’t played fall baseball since 2014, and this year they’re in fourth place in the American League West, making a postseason appearance unlikely.
As a result, the local media is not ruling out the possibility of the Angels trading Ohtani for a bunch of prospects. While Moreno has publicly stated on multiple occasions that the Angels will not trade Ohtani, the possibility continues to be raised.
“There’s a 5 to 10 percent chance the Angels could sign Ohtani to a long-term deal in free agency,” Heyman said, “but I’d put the odds of a trade at 25 percent.”
MLB Network’s John Paul Morosi also analyzed the Baltimore Orioles as a possible destination.
“Baltimore is in second place in the American League East, one game behind the Tampa Bay Rays. “Baltimore is second in the American League East, one game behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays. They’re also looking to bolster in the trade market,” Morrissey wrote, adding that the Angels could be tempted by the number of prospects they have.
There are also obstacles, according to Morosi. “Ohtani has a blister on his hand and has only thrown 10 innings in the last two weeks,” Morosi said, adding that “if he can’t keep his starting rotation intact, he may not be valuable to Baltimore, 토토사이트 which needs pitching.”