Wide-spread speculation around Shohei Ohtani potentially being moved before the upcoming trade deadline can seemingly be put to rest, as the Los Angeles Angels have pulled the two-way superstar off the market, sources told ESPN's Buster Olney, confirming a Sports Illustrated report.
Teams have been informed the Angels won't trade Ohtani before the Aug. 1 deadline, sources told Olney on Wednesday. The Angels will instead focus on adding players — particularly to the pitching staff — in hopes of making their first postseason appearance in nine years, Sports Illustrated reported.
The thought of Ohtani being traded with two months remaining before his highly anticipated run at free agency had long been seen as a longshot from front-office executives throughout the industry, but people familiar with the Angels' thinking had begun to suggest in recent days that the right package might sway owner Arte Moreno to make a move.
One source in particular said the Angels had considered letting the week play out, with back-to-back road series against the Detroit Tigers and the Toronto Blue Jays, before making a final decision.