Shohei Ohtani Trade Rumors: 'No Shot' Star Moves Unless Angels 'Completely Collapse'

It's going to be very difficult to convince the Los Angeles Angels to trade Shohei Ohtani before the trade deadline.

Per ESPN's Buster Olney, one executive from another team said there's "no shot" the Angels trade the 2021 American League MVP unless they "completely collapse" before the Aug. 1 deadline.

The Angels are off to a decent 20-18 start this season. They are second in the AL West standings, three games behind the Texas Rangers (22-14).

Many of the flaws that have plagued the Angels in recent years are still there. Ohtani and Patrick Sandoval are the only starting pitchers with an above-average ERA+. Tyler Anderson has been a disappointing free-agent signing thus far with a 5.40 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in six starts.

The lineup remains top-heavy, but their top four hitters are all playing well. Ohtani and Mike Trout are leading the way by hitting for average and power with good on-base percentages. Hunter Renfroe leads the team with 10 homers.

Anthony Rendon is healthy for the first time in three years. The two-time Silver Slugger is not yet hitting for power like he used to (.354 slugging percentage), but he's hitting .292 and leads the team with a .418 on-base percentage.

The bullpen has been fantastic with a 3.24 ERA, good for sixth in MLB. Carlos Estévez, Matt Moore and Andrew Wantz have combined to allow five earned runs with 55 strikeouts in 51 innings.

Wild-card spots in the AL playoffs will be difficult to come by, especially with all five teams in the AL East being at least four games over .500 right now.

The Angels' best path to the postseason will likely be trying to win the division. The Rangers are off to a strong start, but their rotation is led by the oft-injured Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Martín Pérez and Jon Gray.

The Houston Astros have the most talent of an AL West club, but their rotation is currently without José Urquidy and Luis Garcia. Their offense is off to a slow start with Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker the only regulars with an average or better OPS+, though that should improve assuming Alex Bregman and Jeremy Peña get back on track.

Trading Ohtani would certainly bring back a significant haul, even if he would only be with a new team for a few months, but the Angels continue to make it clear they don't want to move him unless it's absolutely necessary.