Mike Trout says Angels must make playoffs ‘if we want to keep Shohei’
Here are the latest rumors and rumors surrounding Met’s goal Shhei Ohtani…
February 27, 6:10 p.m
Shhei Ohtani The future of the Los Angeles Angles depends on which team makes the playoffs this season, Mike Trout tells Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
In an interview with Heyman on Monday, Trout said “this sure is the year” to break her postseason drought, before adding that it “has to be the year … it has to be.”
“Especially if we want to keep Shohei,” Trout said. “We win and get into the playoffs, he would think about it a little bit more.”
The Angels have a 57.6 percent chance of making the postseason according to Monday’s PECOTA predictions from the baseball prospectus, but they only have a 37.4 percent chance, according to FanGraphs.
Even if they beat the odds, many in baseball believe Ohtani is headed for a free hand this offseason.
The Angels haven’t had a successful season since 2015, and there’s not a lot of talent in the big league roster outside of Trout. In addition, they have one of the worst farming systems in baseball.
If the season starts poorly, they could be faced with a choice: surrender their two-way star before the trade deadline or risk losing it just for a draft pick if it goes to free hand. And no one expects Angle’s owner Artie Morone close a deal with Ohtani for an extension during the season, as San Diego just did Manny Machado.
When the 28-year-old phenom lands on the open market, the Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers are likely to be two of the most obvious landing spots.
February 21, 12:30 p.m
As many suspect, Los Angeles Angles superstar Shhei Ohtani seems to be going free this offseason.
Ohtani’s agent, CAA Sports’ Nez Balelo, hinted to reporters Monday afternoon that his client is likely to test the open market this offseason, according to ESPN.
“Shohei has earned the right to play all year, explore free hand and we’ll see where it comes out,” Balelo said.
He added that Ohtani has “always been open” to negotiating a contract extension with the organization. He declined to comment on the status of the talks, but Ohtani recently hinted they hadn’t been “deep.”
Ohtani also danced to ask whether he wanted to return or notand said, “As of now, I’m an angel, and that’s all I want to focus on.”
Maintaining that stance, Balelo said Ohtani is just taking things day by day at the moment.
“Shohei has been here for five years, now this is his last year. Now we have free reign so obviously there’s going to be a lot of questions, what does he want to do, where is he going to go, all that. And I’ve said that so many times and Shohei has said it too – we really take it day by day, one day after day.”
Feb 16 at 11:58 am
Pending free agent and possible Mets target Shhei Ohtani had a news availability in the Los Angeles Angels camp in front of dozens of local and national reporters to discuss his future.
During the 28-year-old danced around whether he wanted to return or notHe shed some light on the state of negotiations with Los Angeles, saying, “From now on, I’m an angel and that’s all I want to focus on.”
Ohtani noted he has not had “deep” discussions with the team about his future there.
Feb 15, 12:46 p.m
Star of the Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout told reporters Wednesday that he intends to retain the free agent and a possible Mets target Shhei Ohtani with the angels.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to keep Shohei (Ohtani) here,” Trout said.
angel owner Arte Morenowho has abandoned his plan to sell the team, recently reiterated his desire to keep Ohtani.
“I’d love to keep Ohtani,” Moreno told The New York Post’s Jon Heyman. “He’s unique, he’s a great person. He’s obviously one of the most popular baseball players in the world and he’s an international star. He’s a great teammate. he works hard He’s a fun guy and he really connects with the fans.”
Moreno on Ohtani’s signing added: “I want to say that we have as good a chance as anyone.”