Shohei Ohtani got the chance to directly respond to the recent wave of trade rumors surrounding him after he faced the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.
Ohtani mostly brushed away trade talk when asked by reporters, saying he was focused on the season with the Los Angeles Angels still in the playoff race. He notably added that he and general manager Perry Minasian have not had any discussions about whether he might be moved or not.
Shohei Ohtani said he hasn't been given any assurances that he will not be traded.
"I've never really had any talks like that. I see Perry maybe once a week in the clubhouse, and we never really had any conversations."
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) July 22, 2023
The Angels have been very tight-lipped on what they might do with Ohtani, whose contract expires at the end of the season. The team’s recent hot streak has them on the fringes of the playoff race, as they sit four games out of the final AL Wild Card spot entering play Saturday. The final say will ultimately be down to owner Arte Moreno, and there is reason to be skeptical that he would pull the trigger.
Ohtani was not at his sharpest on Friday, but he still struck out nine in a win. He also leads the league with 35 home runs this season.
