Angels News: Shohei Ohtani's Future in Anaheim is Up To The Players on the Field
Anxiety is kicking in throughout the Angels clubhouse, wondering what's going to happen to Shohei Ohtani?
Is he staying or will he be traded in a couple days? Lots of waiting being done by the players, who potentially get to decide Ohtani's fate.
Experts say that the chances of Ohtani being trade during this summer's trade window falls on the hands of the team's ability to get some wins before the August 1st deadline.
This leaves a lot of players, like Tucker Davidson, on their toes.
“It’s up to the front office, it’s not really up to us … it’s going to happen if it’s going to happen."
Angels Reliever, Tucker Davidson - The Los Angeles Times
Hate to break it to you, Tucker, but you players might have a stronger impact than you think.
Shohei Ohtani has expressed throughout the course of the season that he wants to compete to win, and with the Angels slightly out of a Wild Card spot, Anaheim's chances of keeping him only diminish after each loss.
Davidson understands that the rest of the team has some pressure from this potential transaction.
“If we put ourselves in that situation, well, we did it to ourselves...And we don’t want to do that to ourselves. We just have to go out there each day and try to get a W.”
Tucker Davidson - The Los Angeles Times
The Halos' gameplan has only enhanced since this pressure has been out on the players, earning them their fourth straight win after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-5 on Friday night.
Ohtani didn't have the best start as he allowed four home runs, and when he walked off the mound, a sense of fear rolled into the entire stadium's body - could we have seen Ohtani's last pitch as an Angel?
We shall see, but it's pretty clear - Win and he stays longer. Lose and he leaves quicker.
