Dodgers Rumors: MLB Insider Says LA Knew There Was Never a Shot to Acquire Shohei Ohtani

As we get closer to the trade deadline, pressure is starting to build within the Angels organization on what they will do with two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. The team, at least so far, has signaled that they don’t want to make a trade involving the former MVP but it may be in their best interest to do so. 

Many in the industry believe that Ohtani will leave the Angels once he is a free agent this winter so the franchise may as well get something for him rather than letting him walk for nothing. But as we’ve seen in the past, sometimes pride can take over when it comes to matters like this and Angels owner Arte Moreno certainly has plenty of that. 

No matter what the Angels decide to do, it’ll be a tough choice. They could go down as the team to trade the great Shohei Ohtani away or they’ll forever be known as the team that allows him to walk for nothing. 

Now they could always re-sign him in the offseason but at this point, that seems rather bleak. 

The believed frontrunner for the services of Ohtani this winter seems to be the Los Angeles Dodgers according to many around baseball and while the team has the farm system that it would take to execute a trade for Ohtani, it just won’t happen. Moreno is never going to approve a deal to send Ohtani up the 1-5 freeway even if it was the best possible deal to help the Angels future. 

MLB insider Ken Rosenthal mentioned that the Dodgers have known that the Angels wouldn’t trade the superstar to them and that they would have to go after him once he becomes a free agent.

Reports came out today that Angels owner Arte Moreno is unwilling to trade Shohei Ohtani to the Dodgers.@Ken_Rosenthal tells us which teams would be in the mix for a potential Ohtani deal. pic.twitter.com/pCg1X6FapI

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 18, 2023

LA has the type of prospects that the Angels could acquire in a potential Ohtani deal and it would fast track them back into contention. But the pride of Moreno may very well get in the way of future winning. It has been one of things that has plagued the Angels franchise for years and now may see them lose the biggest show in the game today.

The Dodgers know that the Angels wouldn’t make a deal with them in all likelihood and while they may still make a call to the Angels if Ohtani becomes available, their chances of getting a deal done are slim to none. 

LA has set themselves up pretty well to make a strong run at Ohtani when he hits the free agent market. They shed salary this season and are gearing up for an all-out aggressive pursuit of the two-way superstar. Those close to the game believe they have a great shot at landing him and the team likely does as well otherwise they wouldn’t make the moves that they have.

These next few weeks will determine a lot in baseball and could have some major ramifications down the line depending how it all plays out.

Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

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