(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
As the trade deadline approaches, speculation continues to circulate around whether or not Shohei Ohtani will remain with the Los Angeles Angels or ultimately be traded.
Last week, Jon Morosi of MLB Network had reported that the Angels were willing to listen to offers for the two-way superstar.
However, the Angels aren’t out of the race just yet, and may want to reconsider that potential possibility.
Los Angeles is coming off of a three-game sweep against the slumping New York Yankees and climbed back above the .500 mark.
They also are just five games back of the final AL Wild Card spot.
On Twitter, Morosi posted a screenshot of the Wild Card standings, which show where the Angels are in the race.
As Shohei Ohtani prepares to pitch tonight, a look at the AL Wild Card standings. Based on what sources tell me, if the Angels can pass by the Yankees and Red Sox before August 1, I expect Ohtani to finish the year in an Angels uniform. @MLBNetwork @MLB pic.twitter.com/lnHiqu53Tc
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 21, 2023
He predicted that based on recent events, Ohtani will remain in a Halos uniform for the rest of the season.
Ohtani is a free agent at the end of the season and is expected to command a large contract, the likes of which has never been given out in baseball history.
This partially stands to reason why some around the game are speculating that Ohtani may be on the move at the deadline.
More than likely, any trade for him would purely be a rental move, as it would be hard to imagine Ohtani not testing the waters of free agency when the season comes to an end.
But for now, Morosi believes that the two-way star isn’t going anywhere and that he will remain with the Halos until season’s end, barring a sudden drop in the standings.
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