The future of Shohei Ohtani

[D. Bergin]

I know we want to be all pragmatic and analytical about this, but you don't trade a guy in the middle of a historic season like this, contract year or not.

I have a hard time believing there's a lot of Angels fans out there itching to "stockpile for the future", if it costs them the rest of the season with Ohtani.

Watching Ohtani do what he does, IS their playoffs and World Series, all rolled into one right now.

From an ownership perspective, if you think there's the slightest chance you might re-sign him...you don't even give him a hint that you might be shopping him around.

If you don't think you can re-sign him, you make all the money you can off him right now. Ride that marketing train for this historic season for the next decade and beyond. You trade him now for some teams 2nd and 3rd best prospects...all that comes to an end right now.

I highly doubt MLB in general wants him to change teams either. Will take the shine off his accomplishment if it's split between two teams...while you're also expecting him to just pick up where he left off, in a completely different clubhouse and environment from where he came from.

This guy is already walking a fine line with his health and durability. I don't think anything good can come with the added stress of packing up and moving somewhere else, mid-season.

[packs]

I agree with that. I think if Sammy Sosa or Mark McGwire were impending free agents in 1998 there's no way the Cubs or Cardinals would have traded them.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by packs

I agree with that. I think if Sammy Sosa or Mark McGwire were impending free agents in 1998 there's no way the Cubs or Cardinals would have traded them.

Pack the parks and get the television ratings now. Then sell nick nacks and paddy wacks commemorating this season, from now until the end of eternity. That's how you get compensated for losing him at the end of the season.

[D. Bergin]

I hope I'm wrong (and I have been concerning this guy before), if Ohtani's body is as fragile as a lot of us suspect it may be, the Angel's best bet may be to cash in on his fame right now...and let somebody else pay roughly 1/2 a Billion $'s for him, for next year and beyond.

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

I hope I'm wrong (and I have been concerning this guy before), if Ohtani's body is as fragile as a lot of us suspect it may be, the Angel's best bet may be to cash in on his fame right now...and let somebody else pay roughly 1/2 a Billion $'s for him, for next year and beyond.

You may right. However, the combination of a finger blister with a broken finger nail does not reach my definition of a fragile body. He had his Tommy John episode (who hasn’t). He never takes himself out of the lineup for aches and pains. He’s missed two games this year.

All in all one can only conclude he is a physical wreck.

I suspect this forum would have had the same pessimism with regards to Ruth in 1920. (Or not)

The future hasn’t happened yet is all I can say. I liked Mays in 1954.

For me it’s say hey for Shohei.

I wish him well.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

You may right. However, the combination of a finger blister with a broken finger nail does not reach my definition of a fragile body. He had his Tommy John episode (who hasn’t). He never takes himself out of the lineup for aches and pains. He’s missed two games this year.

All in all one can only conclude he is a physical wreck.

I suspect this forum would have had the same pessimism with regards to Ruth in 1920. (Or not)

The future hasn’t happened yet is all I can say. I liked Mays in 1954.

For me it’s say hey for Shohei.

I wish him well.

I think it's more of us suspecting the physical toll that pitching once every six days, and hitting the days that he "has off," will catch up to him. Everyone's bodies break down eventually, and he's been doing this for a bit. I'm not saying, it's going to happen, but even the mightiest in this game, have fallen. Father time, catches us all, and he might catch Ohtani quicker than others because of what he puts his body through. This is pure speculation though, and I'm enjoying the ride.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

I highly doubt MLB in general wants him to change teams either. Will take the shine off his accomplishment if it's split between two teams...while you're also expecting him to just pick up where he left off, in a completely different clubhouse and environment from where he came from.

Interesting take... wouldn't it be much better for MLB if he was on a team with legitimate championship aspirations? Look at the LAA lineup - he's playing with a bunch of bums.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

Interesting take... wouldn't it be much better for MLB if he was on a team with legitimate championship aspirations? Look at the LAA lineup - he's playing with a bunch of bums.

No, because that team would have had legitimate championship aspirations without him, also. He'd be a carpetbagger...a hired gun that got them across the finish line. He'd have no history with them otherwise.

I take this all back, if he goes to another team, wins 2 World Series Games and hits 5 HR's in the same series.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

Interesting take... wouldn't it be much better for MLB if he was on a team with legitimate championship aspirations? Look at the LAA lineup - he's playing with a bunch of bums.

Mike Trout might take exception to that characterization. Moniak is hitting well over .300. The problem with the team is the bullpen. No bulls.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Mike Trout might take exception to that characterization. Moniak is hitting well over .300. The problem with the team is the bullpen. No bulls.

He can take exception to it from the bench, which is where he's been for the last month!

[BobbyStrawberry]

And forgive me if I've posted this before, but this remains one of favorites:

https://www.theonion.com/shohei-ohta...ere-1828835846

[mrreality68]

In the short term you are right he will put fans on the seats for the next few months, sell merchandise and get TV ratings.
When he leaves
Long term the seats will be emptier, the fans will buy less merchandise and ratings will be down.
Then someone else will pay the money to have him. And it will cost that team no player or prospects.
LA could have gotten a nice haul in return to hopefully make a winning team to help gain fans in seats, merchandise etc.

We will see what happens but I agree the next 2 months will be great for LA.

The next few years are the bigger question

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

In the short term you are right he will put fans on the seats for the next few months, sell merchandise and get TV ratings.
When he leaves
Long term the seats will be emptier, the fans will buy less merchandise and ratings will be down.
Then someone else will pay the money to have him. And it will cost that team no player or prospects.
LA could have gotten a nice haul in return to hopefully make a winning team to help gain fans in seats, merchandise etc.

We will see what happens but I agree the next 2 months will be great for LA.

The next few years are the bigger question

They may have gotten a couple of future starting caliber players for him, but I doubt they would have pulled a "putting fans in the seats" type of player.

Teams don't normally give those guys up, and the Rookie contracts they are on, for a 2-3 month rental. They might for a full season of a top player...but not that short of a rental. I'm sure there might be a couple exceptions to the rule here, but unlikely the Angels would have struck gold on that front.

...and it's not just the next two months of capitalization for the Angels. This is the type of season they'll be able to merchandise for years to come...whether he's with them or not.