Angels Rumors: Halos Likely Regret Turning Down This Shohei Ohtani Trade Package at Deadline

A possibly franchise-altering move.

The Angels made a controversial decision to hold onto Shohei Ohtani at the trade deadline that simply didn't pan out by season's end. 

Injury sidelined Ohtani for the final 20-plus games of Anaheim's losing season and recent news surfaced that one AL team offered a significant prospect package for the superstar. 

The Tampa Bay Rays were among the teams who were aggressively seeking Shohei Ohtani at the trade deadline, and were willing to offer three of their top 10 prospects, including top prospect Junior Caminero.

via Bob Nightengale, USA Today

Ohtani stayed an Angel through the 2022 trade deadline when many thought the organization would trade the soon to be free agent for a significant prospect haul. 

The Japanese superstar was in the midst of his best overall season on the mound on top of being the AL's second best hitter behind a monster Aaron Judge MVP campaign. 

Perhaps foolishly, GM Perry Minasian held onto the WBC MVP through this year's deadline, too, and shut down all trade talks for his services in the lead-up to the deadline. 

The Halos instead shockingly turned into buyers at the trade deadline by acquiring C.J. Cron, Lucas Giolito and Randal Grichuk among other pieces to aid their playoff push. 

Everything fell apart for the Halos by August and those trade pieces were sold off to playoff contenders via waivers for Arte Moreno to avoid the dreaded luxury tax. 

What's even worse is that Ohtani still tried to fight his way to the postseason nearly by himself due to injuries across the roster. 

Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon's extended absences placed far too much of a workload on Ohtani's elbow and his body eventually broke down because of it. 

An elbow tear will now keep the impending free agent off the mound for all of 2024 and many wonder what Anaheim's current outlook may be had they traded the presumed AL MVP.