(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Contrary to what was taking place at this point last season, the Los Angeles Angels now find themselves right in the thick of the postseason race.
After Tuesday’s win over the Chicago White Sox, the Halos own a record of 44-37 and are just five games back of the first-place Texas Rangers in the AL West.
With two-way star Shohei Ohtani set to become a free agent at the end of the season, some around the game have speculated that the Halos may trade him.
However, Angels writer Jeff Fletcher explained why it does not make sense for the team to even entertain the idea of trading the former MVP, as shared below by Jayson Stark.
“He’s sort of the riskiest free agent ever..but maybe he’s the safest free agent ever”
New Starkville: Ohtani special!
Doug & I talk Ohtani’s future & more with @Markgubicza & @JeffFletcherOCR (author of Sho-Time)
Spotify https://t.co/Qg7UOm6L1M
Apple https://t.co/n7GeNpS8Ih pic.twitter.com/RZPneUqXVN
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) June 27, 2023
Fletcher believes the only chance the Angels would even listen to offers on Ohtani would be if they were to lose 20 games in a row and fall out of contention, similarly to how they did last season after a 14-game losing skid.
However, Fletcher stated that even if that does happen, they want to re-sign him and that if they do trade him, it would hurt their chances of being able to bring him back during the offseason.
Since the Angels are in the race, the chances of Ohtani ultimately being dealt are very slim.
The Halos have not reached the postseason since all the way back in 2014.
Since then, the goal has been to reach the postseason and do so while both Ohtani and Mike Trout are under contract.
Fletcher says that it would be foolish for the Halos to consider trading him now.
The post Angels Writer Debunks A Potential Trade Rumor appeared first on The Cold Wire.