Angels News: LA Columnist Slams Halos for Keeping Shohei Ohtani
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One of the main storylines going into the deadline was if Shohei Ohtani would be traded, and to where. The Angels definitely could've gotten an absolute haul for the impending free agent.
Trade packages were being drawn up left and right that included numerous top prospects, MLB ready talent and pieces to shape a franchise's future. LA Times columnist Bill Plaschke had a major problem with the way the Halos handled the Ohtani situation.
The Angels are in dire need of some youth. Mike Trout isn't getting any younger, and the Angels' window to win at least more than one playoff game with one of the best to ever do it is closing, and it's closing fast.
So why would they change their course and choose not to sell Ohtani at the deadline, in order to make a push at a wild card spot. Well, if you recall, the Angels have done this in the past.
"They’ve done this before. They’ve tried this before. They’ve sacrificed a solid investment in their future for an awkward dance with a superstar and wound up falling on their face.
His name was Albert Pujols. His name was Josh Hamilton. His name was Vernon Wells. His name was … OK, we’ll stop now."
And even with the history of falling short, the Angels have never had somebody as versatile as Shohei Ohtani, somebody as amazing as Ohtani. So maybe going out and getting Lucas Giolito is a good thing for the Angels, right? Well, in the long run, Plaschke doesn't seem to agree
"They will lose their best pitcher for virtually nothing. They will lose their best hitter for virtually nothing. They will lose two of their best prospects for virtually nothing. And Mike Trout will be 32 and declining."
It's really World Series or bust for the Angels this year. The team wanted to invest in Ohtani for the rest of the season to try and make a playoff push, but come next year, the Angels missed out on acquiring some serious talent for their future.
The Angels seriously could've gotten a king's ransom in a trade for Ohtani. Their lackluster farm system could've seriously gotten an upgrade, and the Angels would've been set for the foreseeable future, but instead, the club decides to ride it out and see where this season takes them.
...the Angels had a unique opportunity to help shape their future instead of being shaped by it, and yet they resisted. They traded several years of growth for two months of buzz. Is this the right team and the right time for all this?
So when we look back on the season, and five years down the road, just think. The Angels could've built for the future, but they decided to go all in on one season.
And if push comes to shove, and the Angels aren't in the postseason this year, letting Ohtani go without getting anything for him might haunt the Angels for a while.
