Angels Sources Reveal Timeline on Shohei Ohtani Trade Decision

With the future of the game's biggest star on the line, the Los Angeles Angels have a huge decision to make over the next 11 days.

According to trusted sources within the organization, the team is still holding out faint — if ever so faint — hope of getting themselves back in the playoff race, and won't make their decision on whether to trade Shohei Ohtani until the final one or two days before the August 1st trade deadline.

Sources: The Angels are not close to a decision on whether to trade Shohei Ohtani. They’re likely to wait until the final 24-48 hours before the Aug. 1 deadline. Teams continue to contact the Angels and express interest in Ohtani, because why wouldn’t they? @MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 20, 2023

MLB Insider Jon Morosi revealed that the Angels are "not close to a decision" as we sit here on July 20th, and will see how they fare over the next week and a half.

The Angels are currently sitting at 49-48, 4.5 games back of the final Wild Card berth, and 9.0 games back of top spot in the AL West division. Their schedule over the next six days is forgiving — three games against the Pittsburgh Pirates and then another three against the Detroit Tigers.

But the last four days before they need to make their decision they'll be facing the Toronto Blue Jays for three contests, then the Atlanta Braves on Monday July 31st.

Ohtani is currently on a close-to-60 HR pace, making the trading of the two-way generational star an even more tricky situation. The Angels are going to take this right down to the wire.

Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports