The Los Angeles Angels have decided to turn their phones off after news broke out a few weeks ago that they are now in listening mode for Shohei Ohtani.
Sports Illustrated reported the Japanese two-way superstar will no longer leave the Angels, who found a great stroke this second half.
"Shohei Ohtani is off the trade market as the Angels plan to make a run for the postseason, per @SInow 's Tom Verducci."
Shohei Ohtani is off the trade market as the Angels plan to make a run for the postseason, per @SInow's Tom Verducci pic.twitter.com/q6skaZ38dT
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 27, 2023
Team owner Arte Moreno earlier said that he is not planning to trade Ohtani, and they want to make the playoffs which they haven't experienced since 2014.
Ohtani himself does not want to leave.
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Halos' playoff chances before the All-Star appeared bleak, but Ohtani never gave up.
"This is my sixth year," he said five days ago. "My feelings haven't changed about wanting to go to the playoffs with this team and win once we're there."
The second half is a polar opposite of Angels' last two weeks before the break. They have lost only three times in their last 10, and to keep that going, they decided to become buyers instead of sellers.
Angels' first move as buyers
The push for a strong finish immediately started for the Halos after the latest Ohtani news. They acquired Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López by letting go of minor leaguers Ky Bush and Edgar Quero.
Giolito just signed a $10.4 million contract with White Sox last January.
He has been remarkable this season, striking out 131 batters in 121.0 innings.
López, on the other hand, is described as a solid reliever and spent most of the current season in the bullpen this year. Both new acquisitions will become free agents next season.
Related article: Angels Superstar Shohei Ohtani Available for Trade; How Much Do Others Have to Pay?
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