LA Angels in “listening mode” on potential trade deal regarding two-way megastar Shohei Ohtani

The future of Shohei Ohtani is the most talked-about topic in baseball right now, as the LA Angels are now open to offers regarding the Japanese superstar.

LA Angels in “listening mode” on potential trade deal regarding two-way megastar Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani (Pic Credit: CNN)

One of the greatest players in the history of baseball is Shohei Ohtani. He continues to mesmerize the crowds through his two way abilities and skills. One thing that has been in the headlines recently is the future of Ohtani. The Japanese performer will be a fee agent once his current contract expires. This has led his team, the LA Angels, into a pretty tough spot, where they are now reported to be in “listening mode” regarding him.

As per reports from MLB insider Jon Morosi, the Angels are now willing to listen to offers regarding Ohtani. The team will face the daunting task of losing their star player for absolutely nothing. There is no assurance that Ohtani will resign with the Angels. To avoid such a situation, the team could be forced to trade their star player.

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Well, there have been several reports in the past suggesting the Angels would be unwilling to do so. However, things have changed now. As per Jon Morosi, the Angels could look to build a future without their best player. The franchise could ask teams to give up their top prospects in return for the trade. This could play a major role as teams would certainly have the risk of losing some of their upcoming stars for a rental period.

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“I really believe that the Angels are in listening mode and if they sink in the standings and the offers rise to a certain level, then may act,” Morosi said while discussing the details of the potential move. The Angels have time until August 1, the trade deadline day, to make a concrete decision.

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Is a move to Los Angeles Dodgers on cards for Shohei Ohtani?

Shohei Ohtani for LA Angels
Shohei Ohtani (Pic Credit: Fangraphs Baseball)

Over the past few days, weeks, and months, several teams have emerged as favorites to land Shohei Ohtani. However, one team that has now emerged ahead of this pack is the Los Angeles Dodgers. While some may point out the rivalry between the two as a factor in not doing business with them, the Angels could be forced to give in.

There is a catch, though. The Angels could snatch up some top prospects. The Dodgers have nine prospects on the MLB’s top 100 list. This could lead to them losing a few upcoming rising stars. Any team that signs the top baseball star also runs the risk of losing him in two months, but they can resign him for a long-term deal. The Dodgers could wait until free agency but they will have to overcome some battles to get his signature.

Only time will reveal which team gets Ohtani’s services. This move will surely go down as the biggest in baseball history due to the caliber of Ohtani. The Angels’ star is batting.302 with 33 home runs and 72 RBIs this season. As for pitching, he has a 7-5 record with a 3.05 ERA and has managed to pick up 139 strikeouts along the way.

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