Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani is on pace to win another AL MVP award. However, amid swirling MLB trade rumors, his time with Los Angeles is increasingly likely to end in a matter of months.
The Agensl beat out the Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Dodgers and other finalists to sign Ohtani when he came over from Japan in 2018. He has emerged as one of the best players in baseball, with international support that has turned him into the face of MLB.
- Shohei Ohtani stats (hitting): .299/.377/.610, .987 OPS, 21 home runs, 10 steals, 165 wRC+
However, the Angels haven’t made the playoffs with Ohtani on the roster. Now in a contract year, poised to become one of the top MLB free agents this winter, it appears Ohtani will be playing for another team in 2024.
During an appearance on the Flippin Bats Podcast, Ken Rosenthal said he doesn’t believe there’s any chance Ohtani re-signs with the Angels this winter.
“Do I think [the Angels] are going to sign [Shohei]? No, I don’t think there’s a chance they’re going to sign him.”
Ken Rosenthal on the likelihood of Shohei Ohtani re-signing with Los Angeles Angels
- Shohei Ohtani stats (pitching): 3.32 ERA, .171 BAA, 1.04 WHIP, 33.3% K-rate
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Rosenthal’s report comes as no surprise based on MLB rumors this year. Once owner Arte Moreno backed off his intention to sell the team, the Angels’ chances of re-signing Ohtani plummeted.
Los Angeles currently intends to keep Ohtani past the trade deadline. Despite the value it could receive by trading him to a contender, the Angels’ positioning in the MLB playoff picture and Ohtani’s added value for marketing make a trade unlikely.
Instead, he’ll hit the open market with two key factors expected to heavily influence his decision in free agency. While multiple teams will pursue him, one early favorite remains and the expectation is Ohtani remains on the West Coast.
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