Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani is the subject of trade rumors as the MLB trade deadline is approaching (AP photo file)

By Amaury Pi-González

This is the toughest and most consequential decision LA Angels owner Arturo Moreno will have to make as the owner of his team, since he bought the club in 2003. His team was playing over .500 until Mike Trout got hurt and now Arturo will have to consider what are his chances to make it to the postseason, with a healthy Ohtani and hopeful that Trout who is rehabbing, quickly returns in time for the team to drive in runs and joins Ohtani.

Let’s say what do you get if you trade the most famous and productive player in the game today? It will never be enough. If you are a real baseball fan you are lucky and privileged to be living during a time when we are witnessing a one-of-a-kind-in-a-century-athlete.

What Shohei Ohtani is doing is like two great players all wrapped-up into one. Ohtani is one of the best hitters and one of the best pitchers in major league baseball through the first half of the 2023 season. Although is premature to say, with some 70 plus games remaining this season, last year’s MVP could be this year’s MVP again.

With 34 home runs the Angels Japanese two-way superstar is leading both leagues in raw power, (on a pace to beat the record established last season in the American League for 62 home runs by Yankee slugger Aaron Judge) Ohtani is third in runs batted in with 72, and also among the best pitchers with the best stuff and number four in strikeouts with 132.

There is no need to compare Ohtani with Babe Ruth, who last played in 1923, that is one hundred years ago. It is fair to say that Ohtani is putting up Babe Ruth numbers, and some even say he is a better player than Ruth. I cannot say that because I never saw Babe Ruth play, and who is alive today to say?

It is impossible to compare one player to the other. We also have to take into consideration that when Babe Ruth played advances in science and nutrition and players training and conditioning were not even remotely close to what they are today Baseball is one of the toughest if not “the toughest” to play among other team sports. In 1982 Ted Williams told the New York Times, “I’ve always said that hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports.

The hardest thing – a round ball, round bat, curves, sliders, knuckle-balls, upside down and a ball coming in at 90 miles to 100 miles an hour, it’s a pretty lethal thing. What Ted Williams said is just about hitting (as a pure hitter he was the best ever), now add to that pitching.

This is what the scouts say about Ohtani’s pitching; Ohtani is a true five-pitch pitcher, throwing all with accuracy and velocity. A high-fastball that can reach 97, an 83 mph slider and 81 mph change-up, also an effective curve ball he uses to set up his other pitches in batter’s counts.

The question about Ohtani is how long he can keep doing what he is doing. Ohtani’s teammate and best friend with the Angels, Mike Trout recently fractured his left hamate, in other words, he broke his wrist, he will be out at least four weeks and if by then the Angels are not in contention, I believe they will not trade Ohtani, but will end the season with him.

Then, Ohtani will become a free agent and the favorite LA Dodgers will make an effort to sign him to the largest baseball contract in history. The irony here is that Mike Trout signed a 12-year $426.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels in 2019 which included a $20 million signing bonus.

At the time the richest deal in the history of North American sports. Ohtani as a free agent will sign a larger contract that his good friend Mike Trout. Odds-masters and people ‘in the know’ have made the Los Angeles Dodgers the heavy favorites to land Ohtani, they have the financial resources for that mega contract, plus Ohtani, likes Dodger Stadium and Southern California.

For Ohtani we are talking over $600 million multi-year deal. Also, do not count out the Padres, Mets and Yankees to get Othani as a free agent after the season. Finally: I do not think Arturo Moreno will trade the great Japanese star.

He will keep him and see if you can make the postseason, if you do not, and he is a free agent, he is gone. That is my opinion; if you disagree I still respect your opinion. Remember this is only baseball we are not deciding a war here. Wherever he plays, enjoy Ohtani, because we might never see another one like him again for another 100 years.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com