As the world waits to find out whether or not Shohei Ohtani gets traded and to where, he has revealed some pertinent information on his talks with LA.
This year's MLB trade deadline might as well be called the Shohei Ohtani deadline because that's the news that everyone is waiting on. While the likelihood of Los Angeles Angels pitcher/slugger Ohtani being dealt before the August 2 MLB trade deadline feels remote, things can change in the blink of an eye in regard to trade negotiations.
After all, it might just take one monster offer to get the Angels to say yes.
On Friday, Ohtani revealed some important information on his trade availability.
Shohei Ohtani is as in the dark as we are in some respects on trade likelihood
If you ask Shohei Ohtani, he doesn't even know whether or not he'll be traded. He said that he has been given no assurances from the Angels that he won't be traded according to Sam Blum of The Athletic, which really widens the possible outcomes one can think of for these next few weeks.
Perry Minasian, Angels general manager, is playing his cards close to the chest, even with his star player.
Ohtani also deflected questions about whether or not he was interested in re-signing with the Angels.
Of course, Ohtani could attempt to leverage a handshake agreement with the Angels that they wouldn't trade him if he planned to come back to LA. Such an agreement feels uncharacteristic for Ohtani, though, given his lack of a desire to take on contract negotiations in-season. Plus, it would wall off later leverage for Ohtani in regards to his choice of where to sign.
If you're getting caught up, here's the gist: Ohtani is a generational, two-way player set to command the biggest contract in baseball history. He's also a free agent this winter, and there's a chance he will choose to go to a new team other than the Angels. As such, Los Angeles could trade him to a team looking to "rent" Ohtani for a few months to close out the season and propel their playoff push. The Angels, for their part, would get something in exchange for Ohtani, rather than him walking in the winter for nothing.
The team that gets Ohtani would have a few months of one of the most electric and game-changing players in the game, plus the chance to pitch him on their organization and why he should re-sign with them come the winter before any other team.
Sounds like no one, not even Ohtani, is quite certain on what to expect over the next 10 days or so.
