Shohei Ohtani Rumors: Angels Insider Shares Insight into Two-Way Star's Upcoming Free Agency

Jose Mota reports on what he's heard about baseball's biggest star.

Perhaps the biggest question league-wide as the Aug. 1 trade deadline approaches is if Shohei Ohtani, baseball's biggest star and a truly generational talent, will be traded this season. Or, if he does remain an Angel, will he sign with another squad in free agency after the 2023 season?

The Angels have gone through the ringer in the last week in terms of devastating injuries and losses. Mike Trout will miss 4-8 weeks with a fracture in his left hand. Anthony Rendon has been riddled with injuries all season. Even Ohtani himself has been dealing with a blister that has limited his performance at times.

In the last 10 games, the Angels are 3-7, freshly coming off of a sweep to the Padres. Their final two games are against the Dodgers, who swept the Halos in Angel Stadium just over two weeks ago.

Before the Angels went particularly cold, the guys over at DodgersNation.com caught up with Jose Mota, a former pro and current analyst for Spectrum SportsNet LA.

Mota said that the Angels should keep Ohtani through the trade deadline because of their potential to make a run at the Wild Card.

"Now, the Angels are in a good position now, because why would you trade him at the deadline?" Mota said. "Why, if you're that close to a wild card spot and who knows what's going to happen in that division. You've got to keep him."

(Via

Dodgers Nation

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As it stands at the time of this writing, the Angels are only three-and-a-half games behind the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays for the final spot in the AL Wild Card. While the losses of Trout and Rendon hurt, the Angels would be throwing away their chances at a playoff push without giving it a chance if they traded Ohtani.

Now, there is a high likelihood that Ohtani walks after this season and joins another team, considering the laundry list of suitors that will likely want a piece of the most exciting player in today's game. However, Mota said that Ohtani is not only focused on signing the biggest check.

"I would say that Shohei has identified geographically where he wants to go. Now, those teams have to want him and those teams have to fit in his demands contractually. The other thing I know is that Shohei is not going to be chasing the last dollar here. I think Shohei might leave money on the table knowing that he's going to get paid drastically, no matter what happens. But he wants comfort. He wants familiarity. He wants the ability to go out there and know who he's surrounded by and he wants to win — this guy wants to win in the worst way."

(Via

Dodgers Nation

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For the Angels to have a chance at keeping Ohtani, they must do everything they can to make the playoffs. And in order to make the playoffs, they must hold on to Ohtani.