Pure, raw talent is hard to come by. Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout are two of the greatest players that Major League Baseball has seen in the last few decades. And yet, time and again, the Los Angeles Angels have wasted opportunities to make full use of their potential. Ohtani finally has a chance to leave the Halos at the end of 2023 in his free agency, but no official decisions have been made yet. Should Mike Trout follow him out of LA?

The Japanese sensation has been given enough leeway to play as he pleases but it may have caused his UCL tear to worsen. Nevertheless, his next contract value remains around a ballpark value of $500 million. The Ohtani and Trout combo has given the team its all but the team fails to give them back. Will they even be able to afford Ohtani?

Can LA Angels Not Afford Shohei Ohtani’s $500M Contract?

Mike Trout is already MLB’s highest-paid player. And while the Angels are not exactly known for being deep-pocketed, it’s no secret they can afford him. While of course there are other teams better suited to pay Ohtani’s hefty contract, the LA team will try everything in its power to retain him. But the wonder of the yakyū shōnen has spread far and wide, and every club wants a piece.

Which Teams Are Leading the Japanese Wonder Boy Sweepstakes?

Every team that leads its division is an obvious contender for the two-way sensation. The Baltimore Orioles and the Atlanta Braves are among the top favorites, and so are the Philadelphia Phillies. New York’s teams could easily pay any amount he asks for and they could certainly use his power on both sides of the ball.

READ MORE – 3 MLB Teams Emerge as Prime Candidates For Shohei Ohtani as He Stands On the Cusp of the Biggest Contract in American History

Additionally, Los Angeles fans want baseball’s unicorn to move to the Elysian Park neighborhood and play for the Angels’ crosstown rivals, the Dodgers. The teams from San Francisco and San Diego were in contention once upon a time, but their lackluster performance has lost their favor. Some have also pitched Seattle as a possible landing spot, while others would prefer the reigning World Series champs, the Houston Astros.

Will Mike Trout Follow Shohei Ohtani to Another City?

Ideally, he should. The Angels have not made a postseason appearance in the last nine years, and yet Mike Trout stays loyal. It’s a shame that a player of his caliber has yet to win a World Series, or even appear in one. But then again, Shohei Ohtani is in the same boat.

While the Japanese sensation will almost certainly move to a different team, many want Trout to do the same, if only for the sake of baseball. If he can stay healthy enough, the center fielder can still wreak havoc on the plate.

Whose Loss Will Hurt the Angels More: Ohtani or Trout?

It’s neither and it’s both. Because it’s not as if the Angels have tried particularly hard to use either of them. Trout and Ohtani have undoubtedly kept the club in the headlines but the club has failed to build a successful roster around them. Even when these two give spectacular performances, more often than not, the Halos still end up losing games. What kind of justice is that? If either or both of them leave, the only true loss will be the lack of star power, because the Angels were anyway unable to fully use it.

A Giant Portion of Los Angeles Angels’ Payroll Opens Up With Ohtani and Trout’s Exit

While Mike Trout is the league’s highest-paid player with his $426.5 million contract, Shohei Ohtani is severely underpaid. The reasons have to do with him joining MLB as a Japanese-born player before the age of 25, but still, his contract extension from 2021 was not lacking.

To put it bluntly, if these two leave the Halos, that money could be invested in other players should the team choose it. And that is a very big if because so far, the front office changes have not done anything to improve the current roster.

Will the LA Angels Finally Make It to the Playoffs?

Laughable as it may sound, the Angels could do it if they put some effort into building a roster that doesn’t backfire on them. Managing is a delicate art because not all risks pay off, but GM Perry Minasian has not made any bold moves since joining the team.

READ MORE – Shohei Ohtani Breaks Character in Tears as Post-Season Chances with LA Angels Slowly Disappear

Call it a curse or a lack of talent, 2023 has certainly not been the year the Angels make it to the playoffs, despite reassurances at the beginning of the season. The Angels have fallen into steep despair, and it seems harder than ever to come out of it.

Future Without Ohtani and Trout: Bright or Dull?

It’s not as if the Angels are without a talented roster. Trout and Ohtani usually steal the spotlight and in their wake, the rest of the team seems to fall into a funk. Interestingly, back in May, it was calculated that whenever either of these players had a day off, the Angels managed to win 5-0. It certainly gave a chance to the rest of the team to shine, and it may bode well for the future.

The writing is on the wall. Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout may leave Los Angeles for the betterment of all. Sad as Angels fans may be to hear it, Trout and Ohtani deserve to be on a team that can take them further than the regular season. And who knows, the rest of the Angels might come into their true power when not being overshadowed by the two superstars.

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