As the Los Angeles Angels get ready to fully dive into their offseason, the only thing on their minds is what happens with two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. He is the core of everything that they do this winter, and he will be until his fate is decided.
It is wildly expected that Ohtani will leave the Halos organization in search of a more consistent winner. The team hasn’t even been close to reaching the playoffs since he joined them, and all he wants to do is win at the highest level.
And yet despite everything working against them, and many media members saying that he is all but gone, it seems that the Halos have a belief he will remain with them. Insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today is reporting that the Angels are optimistic they can re-sign him, even if they aren’t the favorites to land him.
“While the Dodgers still are the favorite to sign free agent Shohei Ohtani, the Angels are cautiously optimistic that Ohtani will stay with them.”
Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today
If Ohtani were to stay with the Angels, it would truly be a shocking development. They haven’t shown him even a sliver of hope that they can field a winning team, and he isn’t getting any younger.
But Ohtani likes the organization and is comfortable with how the team treats him day to day. However, will this see him return to the team with his desire to win? It’s doubtful.
Ohtani will have no shortage of suitors for his services this winter, many of whom can provide him with a chance to win the World Series. The Angels have been stuck in mediocrity for years, and they aren’t trending upward either.
While the Halos may have faith that he will return, the likelihood is that he will leave this winter. It’s not fair to the loyal fans who have supported this team for years, but the only ones to blame are the ownership and front office of the Angels for years of ineptitude.
Maybe the Angels will pull a rabbit out of their hat, but it seems unlikely at this point. This feels like a play by the team to save face with their fans if he does leave this offseason.
