Los Angeles Angels won't trade Shohei Ohtani this offseason, GM Perry Minasian declares
Few major moves, if any, are expected as major league general managers meet this week in Las Vegas, but Los Angeles Angels GM Perry Minasian made news Monday by announcing something he wouldn't do.
"Ohtani is not getting moved," Minasian told reporters in regard to speculation that the team might consider trading 2021 AL MVP and 2022 finalist Shohei Ohtani. "He’s going to be here. He’ll be with us to start the season. I know there’s been rumors and all types of things, but he will be here. He’ll be part of the club.
"Our goal is for him to be here for a long time."
Teams never believed that the #Angels would trade Shohei Ohtani once he signed his 1-year, $30M contract, but GM Perry Minasian now makes it official, telling reporters that Ohtani will be an Angel on opening day.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) November 7, 2022
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Ohtani and the Angels agreed to a one-year, $30 million contract for the 2023 season, but the two-way superstar will be eligible for free agency next winter, potentially setting off one of the most frenzied bidding wars in baseball history.
Another factor in the equation is that Angels owner Arte Moreno is looking to sell the team, so a new owner would have to approve any in-season trade or long-term contract offer for Ohtani.
“I make recommendations,” Minasian said. “At the end of the day, it’s an ownership call, right? But I make the recommendations and I think everybody’s on the same page.”
Ohtani followed up his award-winning 2021 season with one that was statistically even more impressive. He hit .273 with 34 home runs, 95 RBI and 11 stolen bases -- and on the mound, he posted a 15-9 record with a 2.33 ERA and 219 strikeouts in 166 innings.
He has been named one of three finalists for this year's AL MVP award, along with Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees and Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros.
Yet despite Ohtani's heroics and a 40-homer season from three-time MVP Mike Trout, the Angels struggled to a 73-89 record -- their seventh consecutive losing season -- and third-place finish in the AL West division.
The team has made only one playoff appearance in the past 13 years.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shohei Ohtani won't be traded this offseason, LA Angels GM promises
