Angels Must Stay Patient in Shohei Ohtani Contract Talks amid Latest MLB Trade Rumors

This past season, the Los Angeles Angels were able to extend star pitcher/hitter Shohei Ohtani. However, they were unable to land a commitment beyond the 2023 MLB season.

Naturally, the absence of a long-term deal—along with some postseason comments from the 28-year-old—have led to some offseason trade buzz.

“I have to say that August and September in particular felt longer to me than last year," Ohtani said, speaking in Japanese, per Koji Ueda of the Associated Press. “We were not able to play as many good games as we would like—including 14 consecutive losses. So I have a rather negative impression of this season."

With Ohtani disappointed in how things went for the Angels in 2022, teams have wondered if he'd be happier playing elsewhere—and if L.A. would be willing to deal the megastar.

According to SNY's Andy Martino, Los Angeles is not interested in making the two-time All-Star available.

"The Angels are showing no appetite to discuss Ohtani at present, say several teams who have checked in," he wrote.

While dealing Ohtani would undoubtedly bring back a valuable package of picks and prospects, L.A. would be wise to stay patient and continue working on a long-term deal.

There are a couple of reasons for this, the first being that the Angels have no reason to rush. Ohtani is under team control for another season, thanks to the one-year, $30 million extension. There's no reason to panic-trade him at the present.

While Ohtani may be displeased with how things have unfolded in L.A.—the Angels last made the postseason in 2014—that doesn't mean he's unhappy with the organization itself. It simply means that he wants to win, and the team has an opportunity to show him it can do just that.

Rather than trading Ohtani and starting another rebuild, the Angels should focus on improving the roster in free agency. Chasing one of the impending free-agent shortstops, like Trea Turner or Carlos Correa (opt-out) would make a ton of sense. Finding another standout outfielder to partner with Mike Trout would also be logical.

Hitting should be a priority, as the Angels scored the sixth-fewest runs in baseball last season.

Ohtani and Trout form a fine foundation. With another high-end piece or two, the Angels should be able to improve on last year's 73-89 record.

Forging a contender should help make Ohtani happy and therefore more likely to sign a long-term deal. And keeping the unique superstar for the long haul should be Priority No. 1 in Los Angeles.

Ohtani can be the centerpiece of a perennial contender. This past season, he batted .273 with 34 home runs and 95 RBI. He also went 15-9 as a starting pitcher with a 2.33 ERA.

The Angels essentially have two stars—an ace pitcher and a standout hitter—in one player. That's great for the on-field product. It's also important for the bottom line. With all due respect to Trout, Ohtani is the franchise's biggest draw and one of the few players in the sport casual fans will turn up to see.

This leads us to another important factor to consider: The fact that the Angels are up for sale.

"The Los Angeles Angels will be sold for at least $3 billion, a record price for a baseball franchise, several MLB owners believe," USA Today's Bob Nightengale wrote last month. "The negotiations are brisk, and the sale is expected to be consummated within the next few months."

As a product, the Angels will be much more attractive with Ohtani on the roster. Therefore, it's already unlikely that he will be dealt before the franchise changes ownership.

In the interim, the team's decision-makers, including general manager Perry Minasian, must continue laying the foundation for a more permanent contract. The executive must also be aggressive in putting more talent around players like Ohtani, Trout and Jared Walsh.

Having a stronger foundation will help Los Angeles get back to the postseason in the near future and help ensure that Ohtani wants to stick around for the foreseeable future.

If the Angels can't provide that, if L.A. struggles in 2023 and if Ohtani is still unwilling to commit beyond this season? Well, Los Angeles will still be able to flip Ohtani for a huge package at the trade deadline.