The Los Angeles Angels have relied on general manager, Perry Minasian, to build their roster around their stars, Mike Trout, and Shohei Ohtani. But in doing so he has perhaps wasted valuable time that could cost him one of Major League Baseball’s biggest stars and possibly his own job.
Ohtani is the reigning MVP and is making a case for a repeat selection with his improvements on the mound as a starting pitcher. With Ohtani’s open desire to win a World Series, the Angels received multiple inquiries about a trade for their superstar two-way player at the deadline.
However, Minasian opted to hold off and let the deadline pass with the understanding that the sooner it comes to Ohtani reaching free agency meant that the stakes would get even higher for both of them, via R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports:
The Angels had conversations with other teams concerning Ohtani ahead of the trade deadline but rival front offices were skeptical that Moreno would sign off on a deal. One source speculated that Moreno could view Ohtani and general manager Perry Minasian as a package deal: if Ohtani leaves, either through free agency or in a trade this winter or next deadline, then Minasian is out, too.
Minasian expressed his understanding that he must build a better roster, but to lose Ohtani would be a monumental failure for him and the Angels. It is up to Minasian to fill out the roster and get better on the periphery without mortgaging prospect capital he can ill-afford to lose.
Shohei Ohtani has terrific performance against Seattle Mariners
Ohtani has, on several occasions, managed to make the impossible look routine. Over the past two seasons, one would be hard-pressed to find a seven-day span in which Ohtani didn’t do something otherworldly on a baseball field with the Angels.
That was the type of performance he had on Saturday night against the Seattle Mariners. Ohtani was the starting pitcher and batted third in the order behind Luis Rengifo and Mike Trout. At the plate, Ohtani went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a walk.
Ohtani’s RBI came in the first inning when he narrowly missed a two-run home run but settled for a double that scored Trout from first base. His two-base knock in the first inning gave the Angels one of their two runs needed to secure a 2-1 victory. But as a pitcher is where he was truly magnificent.
