Los Angeles Angels Release Statement in the Wake of Shohei Ohtani’s Departure
On Monday, it became official.
Generational superstar Shohei Ohtani left the Los Angeles Angels to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s a 10-year deal worth $700 million, though the contract has some very interesting nuances, which you can read about here.
Once the deal was announced, the Angels released a statement on social media:
“Shohei Ohtani is a generational player and it was an honor to watch him make history throughout the six seasons he spent in an Angels uniform.
We feel extremely fortunate that Angels fans were able to witness him redefine what is possible in our sport.
We thank Shohei for his many contributions to our franchise and the game of baseball. We wish him the best during the next chapter of his career.”
While that’s all true and the Angels did the right thing by wishing him well, this whole situation has to hurt.
First off, the Angels weren’t able to capitalize on having Ohtani and Mike Trout in the same lineup for six years. They didn’t even make the playoffs with the two best players in the sport, which is an unfathomable embarrassment.
Second off, the Angels could have traded Ohtani at the trade deadline this year to maximize a return on him. Instead, they watched him leave for nothing more than a compensatory draft pick.
Thirdly, not only did Ohtani leave, but he left for a Dodgers team that occupies the same market as the Angels. That can’t sit well with ownership.
Ohtani just won his second American League MVP Award in three years and led the American League in home runs with 44.
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