The Los Angeles Angels are still open to trading Shohei Ohtani.
Major League Baseball’s official website has been providing daily updates on the most sought-after players ahead of next month’s trade deadline. “The decision to trade Ohtani may not be finalized until the last minute,” the website said on Nov. 21.카지노사이트
MLB Network reporter John Paul Morosi also quoted a source as saying, “The Angels’ decision on whether to trade Ohtani could come 24 to 48 hours before the deadline.”
While the Angels front office is now saying that the door is open to trading Ohtani, the actual trade will depend on the Angels’ performance at the trade deadline.
The Angels went an abysmal 1-10 in their final 11 games of the first half of the season, erasing even their five-game winning percentage. After snapping a four-game losing streak, they finished the first half with five straight losses and dropped six straight to start the second half, including a 5-7 loss to the Houston Astros. During that time, the Angels fell out of the top five in the American League wild-card race.
However, since snapping the six-game losing streak, they have rebounded to go 4-1 in their last five games. They swept a three-game series with the New York Yankees on April 18-20. The Angels are 49-48 through 21 games, trailing Houston by 4.5 games for the third American League wild card. Postseason tickets are awarded to the third wild card in each league.
This means that the Angels will wait to see how they fare in their remaining eight games against the Detroit Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays, and Atlanta Braves before the trade deadline two days from now, and only then will they be willing to move Ohtani if their chances of making the postseason are virtually gone.
Ohtani, who is eligible for free agency at the end of this season, is a coveted trade piece for teams looking to make a run at a championship this year, and the Angels are likely to be able to put together the pieces they want in a short negotiation period.
However, the above website states that “Angels President Art Moreno appears to be looking for reasons not to trade Ohtani. According to longtime sources, Moreno is hesitant to trade Ohtani because of what he means to the organization on and off the field and in the box office.”
“A team that wants Ohtani would have to spend similar to what the San Diego Padres gave up last year to acquire Juan Soto and Josh Bell from the Washington Nationals. San Diego had to bleed five top-100 MLB Pipeline prospects and veteran Luke Voit to acquire the two players.