Angels News: Halos Infielder Knows What It'll Take To Retain Superstar Shohei Ohtani

Could it be as simple as stacking up W's to keep the two-way superstar?

The 2023 Los Angeles Angels might be the most complete team in quite a while, which says a lot. The Halos are entering this season hoping to end their eight-year playoff drought, and they have the squad to get it done. 

The Angels' front office did their job this offseason, and they may not be done by the time the trade deadline approaches. A lot is riding on the team this season, and it all hinges on their two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. After this season, Ohtani will be entering free agency for the first time in his career, and he will be priority number one for almost every team in the running, including your Angels. 

The Halos aren't among the favorites to retain Shohei, and it could be a steep battle to keep him past this season. However, Angels infielder Taylor Ward believes winning could be the thing to keep the 28-year-old. 

“We need to win,” Ward said. “Shohei wants to win. Everyone knows that. Obviously, we want to keep him here and the best way to do that is to win and prove to him that this is the ballclub that he should be on, the team he should be on both on the mound and in the box.“I just think just going through throughout the year that he needs to see we have a good clubhouse and are doing everything we can to win.”

Winning is the best medicine, and it could be as simple as that to keep Ohtani in red and white. 

Currently, they're not doing a good job in that department. The Halos only sit one game above .500 as of Friday and in third place in the AL West. Anaheim has been mediocre at best in the past six seasons with Ohtani, and I'm not sure it will be that simple. 

Could one good season of ending an eight-year playoff drought be enough to keep Ohtani for the long term? We'll find out soon, and we'll see where Ohtani's priorities will be at.