Is Shohei Ohtani going to be on the move come August 1st?
The recent injury to Mike Trout has led to trade rumors surrounding Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani.
With the Angels struggling in the standings, other teams have inquired about Ohtani’s availability.
As the front-runner for the AL MVP, Ohtani has been the standout player in baseball this season.
Despite the injury to Trout, the Angels’ general manager, Perry Minasian, has stated that Ohtani will not be traded.
However, speculation has heightened since Trout’s extended absence due to a wrist injury.
Despite the increasing speculation, MLB executives do not believe that the Angels will trade Ohtani this summer.
If the Angels were intent on maximizing Ohtani’s trade value, they would have moved him last year, when they were less competitive in the standings and the additional contractual control would have yielded greater value.
Even if the Angels miss the postseason, value exists in keeping Ohtani on the roster until he reaches free agency. There are the viewership numbers every time he plays. There are the marketing revenues and sponsorships attached to his presence. There’s the very realistic chance that he’ll win his second American League MVP Award.
The Angels are in a unique situation as it is expected that Ohtani will leave the team in free agency and sign with a National League team.
While the front office might consider trading Ohtani to receive assets before he departs, they would require approval from owner Arte Moreno.
Obtaining such approval would be challenging, as Moreno is unlikely to agree to trade away Ohtani.
Although it may be in the Angels’ best interest to trade Ohtani from a baseball standpoint, it would negatively impact the club financially.
Ohtani’s popularity draws a significant number of fans to the ballpark and increases revenue through merchandise sales.
Consequently, trading him would result in a decrease in attendance and revenue for the Angels.
Therefore, despite the interest from teams like the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, it appears that Ohtani will remain with the Angels for the remainder of the season.
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