It is believed that Moreno strolling away from the very best gross sales worth in baseball historical past diminishes Shohei Ohtani’s possibilities of returning to Anaheim after this season, per SNY’s Andy Martino. A franchise-altering resolution might be in retailer for GM Perry Minasian on the July commerce deadline.
Ohtani was more likely to hit free company earlier than the non-sale resolution, however a brand new proprietor keen to spend might need satisfied him to remain. The 28-year-old two-way star will reportedly search a deal as excessive as $500 million subsequent winter.
That worth may be a stretch, however contemplating Ohtani is certainly one of a sort, it is inconceivable to know for positive. The candy spot may be $450 million over 10 years, however how sure is it that Moreno will decide to that and spend to enhance the remainder of the group?
Moreno talked about in Monday’s assertion that the Angels’ payroll for 2023 is the very best within the franchise’s historical past. Whereas that is true, it is solely the tenth-highest payroll within the majors and does not exceed the $233 million luxurious tax threshold.
Whereas the roster improved this offseason, the expertise surrounding generational gamers Ohtani and Mike Trout nonetheless falls in need of rivalry standing. With Moreno on the helm, Ohtani’s World Sequence hopes most likely will not come true in Anaheim.
If Ohtani is heading for the door, Minasian should resolve on him by the deadline. Martino experiences {that a} resolution of this magnitude must be signed off by Moreno, however even then, a deal won’t come to fruition.
The Angels will not get a Juan Soto-type of return for Ohtani as a result of he is a rental. They could, nonetheless, command a number of high prospects and doubtlessly main leaguers with a number of years of management. If Ohtani will get dealt on the deadline, he’d nonetheless take a look at the market until given an enormous extension.
Among the many groups looking for to signal Ohtani in free company are the cross-town Dodgers and New York Mets, with the Giants and Yankees within the combine. The Dodgers have been comparatively quiet this winter; their focus might already be on Ohtani.
Martino additionally experiences that Mets proprietor Steve Cohen has already begun discussing an Ohtani pursuit with upper-level Mets staffers. An all-out bidding conflict is already shaping up.
In all chance, the Angels will play out the primary half and reevaluate Ohtani’s scenario on the deadline. It would nonetheless be difficult to drag off a deal if he turns into obtainable as a result of worth, however the Angels should not let him stroll for nothing (or in any respect).
