Angels News: Former GM Slams Halos, ‘I Think They’ve Made a Huge Long-Term Mistake’
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The Angels have made it clear that Ohtani is going to remain in LA after the trade deadline.
Not only will the Angels refrain from selling and thus virtually give up on making the playoffs this season, but the Angels are gearing up for a postseason push.
The Angels acquired starting pitcher Lucas Giolito and reliever Reynaldo Lopez from the Chicago White Sox Wednesday, sending over two of their top prospects in return.
The Angels' message is clear: they are set on winning as many games as possible and reaching the postseason for the first time since 2014.
Not all think that their decision to go all-in was a wise one.
The Athletic's Jim Bowden, former general manager for the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, did not mince words when reflecting on the Angels' choice to buy at the deadline.
"If the Angels don't make the playoffs, they'll have set their franchise back at least three or four years," Bowden wrote. "This was their opportunity to build for the future ... I think they've made a huge long-term mistake."
(Via The Athletic)
It's hard to imagine, but many have tried, how substantial a trade package involving Ohtani could have been. As of Friday evening, the 29-year-old leads all of Major League Baseball in home runs by a whopping 7 homers. Ohtani is seriously threatening to beat Aaron Judge's American League home run record after just one year. As the only two-way player in the game, Ohtani has the value of an elite hitter and an elite pitcher and is the most marketable player in baseball.
Which could be why the Angels can't seem to let him go.
The Angels are only three games back in the AL Wild Card race behind a Red Sox and Yankees team which have to battle the dominant Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays in their division — not to mention Toronto, who currently holds a Wild Card spot.
Ohtani has repeatedly expressed that he wants to win above anything else, and if the Angels can prove that, perhaps he'll stay in Anaheim next season.
