Angels GM: ‘Life goes on’ after Shohei Ohtani’s move to Dodgers،
LOS ANGELES — When Shohei Ohtani decided to drive 30 miles down I-5 to the Dodgers, he left several huge holes at the Los Angeles Angels.
At the heart of their programming. At the top of their starting rotation. And into the coffers of a franchise that has reaped enormous financial rewards thanks to the international fame of their two-way star.
But the Angels have no choice but to move on after the two-time AL MVP left owner Arte Moreno's Orange County club this week for the much more successful baseball team in the metropolis of Los Angeles, by accepting a 10-year contract worth $700 million.
“He’s someone I have a ton of respect for personally and someone the organization loves to have,” Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Friday. “He's one of the best players to ever play for this organization, and we understand that, but life goes on. We're going to take advantage of the rest of the offseason and work as hard as we can to put a truly competitive team on the field. field.”
Minasian has repeatedly refused to say anything of substance about the negotiations that ended with Ohtani being chosen by the Dodgers over the Angels, Giants and every other interested club. Minasian, who was not in charge when Ohtani chose the Angels six years ago, also declined to comment on multiple reports that the Halos had a chance to match the Dodgers' massive offer, but declined .
“I’m not going to go into details,” Minasian said. “I understand the question. It's just that when it comes to negotiations, it's not something we make public, I make it public. I have a great relationship with Nez, a great relationship with Sho. The organization has a great relationship with both, and we congratulate him on his agreement and wish him nothing but the best.”
Ohtani's agent, Nez Balelo, said Thursday that the Angels “are special to Shohei” and “a place he really loved playing. He loved the people there, everything. The Angels had every opportunity.”
Whether the Angels could have kept Ohtani, even with a $700 million offer, remains fairly uncertain, largely because they were never a winner with him. Ohtani cited his desire to win as the most important factor in his decision to leave the Angels, who are enjoying the worst streaks in the major leagues with eight straight losing seasons and nine straight non-playoff seasons.
Hours after Ohtani announced his decision last Saturday, the Angels tore down the imposing mural of him that had occupied a prominent spot near the main gate of Angel Stadium. On the same plaza is the team store where the Angels have sold millions of dollars in Ohtani-related merchandise to fans coming from all over North America and Asia to witness the talents of a singular athlete.
Ohtani's decision is even more painful for the Angels and their fans because the team decided not to trade him this year at the deadline, even though they knew there was a good chance they would trade him. lose for nothing more than a compensatory draft pick.
The Halos were 65-61 at the trade deadline, and Moreno allowed Minasian to make several acquisitions in a desperate attempt to end their playoff drought — then they promptly lost seven straight games and eventually finished their second straight season at 73-89.
“We were playing really good baseball, [and] we definitely had a chance to compete until the end,” Minasian said. “It didn't work out. There are no regrets. We felt like we had a really good team. It just didn't work. From an injury standpoint, we didn't have guys returning like we thought we would. We didn't play like we thought we would. That being said, we took our chances in trying to win and I have no regrets.”
Minasian said he intended to add players to the Angels' mid-major roster, and Moreno gave him the financial ability to do so.
In addition to the craters created by Ohtani's departure, the Angels must upgrade a pitching staff that has struggled in 2023. The team also must decide what to do with the designated hitter spot that Ohtani occupied for six years .
Minasian said the Angels haven't decided whether to sign a regular DH or rotate other hitters in place, especially giving defensive rest to oft-injured veterans Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon.
“This is a group that wants to win,” Minasian said of Moreno. “Financially, what the owners have committed over the years, I think that says it. We're going to make this team better in the offseason. It's still early from a market standpoint and what's available.”
