Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian has found himself in one of the most difficult positions in all of Major League Baseball, perhaps all of sports, with the expiring contract of Shohei Ohtani and if he fits into the franchise’s future.
With one year of arbitration remaining on his initial contract, Minasian and Ohtani were able to agree on a one-year $30 million contract which allows him and the Angels to move ahead with other aspects of their team for the time being.
With just one season in the playoffs with Mike Trout in an Angels uniform, Minasian must find a way to keep Ohtani with the team long-term, via Jeff Fletcher of the O.C. Register:
“I’m never going to talk about negotiations, but I said it before and I’ll say it again, I’d love to have him here for a long time,” Minasian said.
A day earlier, Ohtani said it’s too early for him to even be thinking about his future beyond 2023.A day earlier, Ohtani said it’s too early for him to even be thinking about his future beyond 2023.
A day earlier, Ohtani said it’s too early for him to even be thinking about his future beyond 2023.
Unfortunately, the Angels must do what’s best for the franchise and that is exactly what makes Minasian’s job so difficult. If Ohtani doesn’t intend to stay with the team, a trade must be explored to ensure a historic haul is brought back in return.
Mike Trout trusts Perry Minasian to build Angels winning roster
With the playoffs getting underway, the Angels are in a familiar spot, missing the postseason with both Trout and Ohtani. But after a flurry of changes, the Angels have a different sense of optimism heading into next year.
Since June 30, the Angels are 36-48 and finished the regular season at 79-89, their seventh consecutive losing season. With Trout, the Angels have only made the playoffs one time, a clear failure given his consistent elite production.
The Angels must find a way to figure out how to build a roster around Ohtani and Trout heading into 2023 as the frustration continues to bury the duo’s immense ceiling.
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