Angels say they won't trade Shohei Ohtani. He celebrates with a 1-hitter, 2 homers

This is a lose-lose for the Angels. They will lose Ohtani to free agency, and fail to make the play-offs.

Wish i was there to watch that match. Must have been a incredible day for the fans.

Good on you GOAT! Repaying the Angel's show of faith in him with another jaw-dropping performance!

Understandable why the Angel's had no intention of trading Ohtani - they know they will never see a player like him. Really wise decision.

Really wise decision.

Well, it actually isn't.

It's great for the Angels' for this season, of course. Ohtani is the single best player in baseball and a huge draw with great marketing appeal. But Moreno is a dumb owner for the team itself, not to trade him, and get assets back.

It's too big a risk to lose Ohtani for nothing. If the Angels don't make the playoffs, absolutely he's gone. If they make it, he's still probably gone. They're 3 games back with 2 teams they have to climb over to get a playoff play in game. It's not a great look for the Angels.

The Giolito signing was a sneaky good move. They are all in this season, and they want to do it with Ohtani, understandable. If it doesn't play out, oh well, back to same ol Angels.

I wonder how many Japanese women out there are eyeing for him and his fat bank book.

It's too big a risk to lose Ohtani for nothing. 

The problem with this is we don’t know what the Angels would have gotten for him.

I doubt they would have gotten much in exchange for just a couple of months of his service from a team looking to make the playoffs (like the Angels themselves are).

And by trading him for a couple of prospects (or whatever) they’d have been giving a pretty awful signal to fans that they were completely giving up on this season. In contrast, keeping him sends a much more encouraging signal, even if they do ultimately end up losing him to free agency. And who knows, they could plausibly get a wild card spot and make a playoff run, which might convince Ohtani to stay.

There is a ton of risk and uncertainty of course, but I think they made the right call in keeping him.

@Seesaw

Heck, I’m a straight Englishman, and even I’m eyeing him for his bankbook ; )

rainydayToday  09:37 am JST

Spot on assessment! The Angels were not offered anything of worth that trumped the value of a possible wildcard run. The slim chance of that run in addition to gain of perceived loyalty to their players is worth more than any of the crap that others were willing putting on the table.

I'm slack-jawed. He whut? Then he did whut? The question I have is, "Is he Clark Kent or Superman?" The mind boggles.

I'll leave the prognostications to those believe they can see into the future. I'm just going to enjoy his play this season. Win, lose, playoffs, no playoffs, free agency or in house re-signing. . .I don't care. Dig him now, dig him later.

Seesaw7Today  09:35 am JST

I wonder how many Japanese women out there are eyeing for him and his fat bank book.

I don't think it's just Japanese women.

Big gamble for Angels' management. Unless there are changes to the roster, hard seeing him agree to sign another contract with them. I don't think it's just the money as he already makes multi-millions in endorsements. I can see him sacrificing $$$ to be on a contending team.

The Angels were not offered anything of worth that trumped the value of a possible wildcard run. The slim chance of that run in addition to gain of perceived loyalty to their players is worth more than any 

a. You don't know what was offered. Moreno may not have even listened to offers, at all. I know for a fact he didn't listen to the Dodgers who have about 10 of the top 100 prospects in baseball. Why? Because Moreno is emotional and won't deal with the Dodgers because he wants the Angels to be LA's team. How dumb is that? If you have a team like the Dodgers, who want Ohtani, and have great prospects, you can replenish the Angels, but because you cry about not dealing with big brother, you won't even talk to them?

b. Losing Ohtani for nothing on a team that hasn't sniffed the playoffs nor a winning record since Trout and Ohtani have played together is stupid. As a fan, sure, you want him. But I'd think even most Angels' fans know it's a bad move to keep him in lieu of losing him for nothing, especially when the 'offered for nothing of worth' is likely not true. I realize the team getting him would be looking at maybe a rental, even if he gets a 500 million dollar offer from that team. But if so, it means Ohtani wants an FA bidding war and make his choice from many suitors, which makes the Angels competing next summer an impossibility, so another reason to get something back for him.

c. Loyalty has nothing to do with it. Ohtani has already stated he wants to play for a winner on his next contract. The bidding is going to be so high, with so many teams involved, Moreno won't be able to compete as a double whammy.

d. There's near zero chance Ohtani signs up to play on a team that isn't functionally a winning franchise. The Angels aren't that team and a good asset managed team would absolutely realize they needed to trade the high value of Ohtani, and actively search for a bidding war at the deadline, which is not what Moreno allowed to happen. Dumb.

The only way I can see Ohtani staying with the Angels is if they make it to the World Series. If they can do that, he won't need to leave. He makes plenty of money, and he will make more. The key is to get onto a team that is a competitor. The Angels could be that team, even if the odds are not great. Obviously, the fans would love for him to stay.

They're 3 games back with 2 teams they have to climb over to get a playoff play in game. It's not a great look for the Angels.

Er, Angels are one of the hottest teams in baseball 9-3 since the ASG and playing the very team they are 3 games back of this weekend. 59 games left in the season. Yankees play the Orioles this weekend aka the best team in the AL. Boston plays SF who are about even with them. I don't get your logic.