Angels News: Anonymous Source Predicts Halos Won't Trade Shohei Ohtani This Season

Shohei is here to stay... at least for the rest of the 2023 season

A big offseason is on the horizon for the Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani is set to be a free agent after the 2023 season, and he could change the perspective of any MLB team that snags him. 

However, talk has surfaced that teams may be putting on their chips on the table to acquire the two-way superstar before this year's trade deadline. Now that would all depend on how your Halos before by then, but LA Times writer Jorge Castillo said an anonymous source believes regardless of the Halos status; they won't trade Ohatni by the trade deadline. 

"The Angels, meanwhile, don’t plan to move Ohtani before the trade deadline no matter how far behind they fall for a playoff spot, according to a person with knowledge of the situation."

A ton can happen until late July, but that's excellent news for the Halos and their fans. If this holds to be accurate, you could make a run to the postseason and prove to Shoehi why he should remain in the white and red. 

Losing Shohei would be a huge bummer, and I'm not sure the Angels could afford that. Nonetheless, the Angels must be in contention or at least competitive to retain Shohei past the trade deadline. If the Angels are nowhere near playoff contention, they must know where Shohei's head is at that point, and if he wants to move, LA needs to get all they can for him. 

It wouldn't be the end of the world if the Angels trade Ohtani and they get back outstanding ready-now players and top prospects from another organization. Ohtani is a once-generation talent, and regardless of what happens after this season, they must be able to give him whatever he wants. Now, will Angels owner Arte Moreno do what's necessary to keep him? That's another story for a different day. In the meantime, the news above is great to hear; for Angel fans' sake. Let's hope that stands.