Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno has quelled fans' fears concerning Shohei Ohtani's time with the team, saying the Japanese sensation will not be traded.
Moreno made the comments during an interview with the New York Post. He said Shotime is irreplaceable, and fans' opinions matter for their next move.
"I just don't know how you replace a guy like that," he said. "We want to win, and it's nice to have him in the lineup. For me, it's about the fans."
For his part, general manager Perry Minasian does not see trading their prized star as the way to go but insisted that their goal is to reach the playoffs and end their eight-year drought.
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The team is currently sitting at the second spot of the AL West standings with a 41-33 record behind the Texas Rangers.
Ohtani is a top prospect come free agency
Ohtani, who will turn 29 next month, is a two-way player who has been taking the league by storm since he arrived in 2018. He currently leads the league in homers, RBI, and slugging percentage.
He will also likely get his third MLB All-Star nod, leading nearly 1.4 million more votes than the next name in the designated hitter position.
Many clubs have already shown interest in the Angels superstar, including Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, and San Diego Padres - all able to pay Ohtani much better than the Angels.
Angels are financially tied to some other players, while Moreno resists exceeding the luxury tax threshold. If Ohtani finds a better deal once he becomes a free agent, the team might see him walk away for nothing.
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