Angels fans stood up and cheered as Shohei Ohtani made his way to the dugout after spending a turbulent Friday night in the hills. A big A echoed “M-V-P!” Cheers to the unique talents who have revolutionized baseball in Orange County over the past six seasons.
But there was a touch of pathos in the chants and cheers. Most of these fans realized that this could be their last chance to thank him. Ohtani’s future has been the talk of baseball all year long, and even with the Los Angeles Angels entering their final game 10 days before the MLB season ends, the prognosis isn’t so clear. Ohtani is in the final year of his contract before unrestricted free agency, and the Angels must decide whether to trade their generational superstar for a probable motherlode or risk the possibility of losing him for practically nothing in the winter.
Every serious Angels fan understands the stakes of the next several days — and of the next few months, if the Halos don’t trade Ohtani at the deadline. Ohtani also understands the nature of the current spotlight on him, but the major league home runs leader claimed he isn’t thinking about a potential farewell to his only major league team.
“That did not cross my mind at all,” Ohtani said through his translator Friday of the possibility he had just made his last home mound appearance for the Angels, who will be on the road next week. “Obviously, I’m a part of the Angels at this moment, and I feel like we’re in a decent spot to make a playoff run, so I just try not to really think about that.”
Ohtani said he has no assurances he won’t be traded, and he didn’t acknowledge any discussions about a contract extension. His agent has previously said he would likely consider a freehand, which would raise the bar for the Angels’ decision. Ohtani, his teammates and fans all seem to be waiting, or not waiting at all, for a move from Angels owner Arte Moreno and general manager Perry Minassian.
When asked if he ever considered cutting this whole drama short by committing to the Angels ahead of free choice, Ohtani replied, “We never sat down and talked like this.” “I see Perry at the clubhouse about once a week, but we never talked about it.”
Both sides are strong in the debate, and even Ohtani, who normally limits distractions with his austere lifestyle, is surprised by the diversity of opinions on the issue. He wasn’t at his best Friday night, but he scored his eighth win of the year despite allowing four homers to the Pittsburgh Pirates. “Obviously we’re mid-season and trying to focus on the season and eliminate anything else,” Ohtani said. “I think we’re well positioned to make the playoffs and that’s the only thing I’m really focused on right now.”
The Angels (50-48) said they were unlikely to trade Ohtani, especially if he’s in the postseason races before the deadline. But ten days after the conclusion, their position doesn’t help much.
They are four games away from the final wild-card spot in the American League, two teams up, and are bottom of the competition on a four-game winning streak despite high-paid sluggers Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon missing due to injury.
Ohtani has always been careful not to make strong public statements about his future, other than to emphasize his desire to be on his winning team. The Angels have never won a team with Ohtani. Since his arrival, the team has lost five straight seasons and hasn’t made the postseason since 2014. But the drama never ends