NFL
By: George Lopez
The Los Angeles Angeles approached the 2023 MLB trading deadline with a huge question to answer. Would the Angels look to trade Shohei Ohtani in a block-buster trade or risk losing him to free agency at the end of the season? If the Angels decided to trade him, they would be announcing to their team as well as their fans that they are giving up on the current season. As the trading deadline approached, the question of whether Ohtani would or not be traded continued to grow, especially after the injury to Mike Trout. To say Angel fans were concerned Ohtani would no longer be on the team is an understatement.
Before the trading deadline, the Angels announced that Ohtani was not on the trading block, he would remain with the team. Not only did the Angels make the decision not to move Ohtani, they added to the ball club by trading for pitchers Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez. On the offensive side, the Angels added Mike Moustakas, Eduardo Escobar, C.J. Cron, and Randal Grichuk. The Angels sent a clear message to the team and their fan base…they were going to make a serious run for the postseason this year.
With key players expected to return shortly and the players the team has brought in, a renewed optimism, not seen in a number of years, is evident among the Angels fan base. Once the decision was made to keep Ohtani and the trades were made, you can feel the cloud of doubt has been lifted. On the field, the team is playing with an increased energy level. Knowing the front office believes this team can make a serious run at the playoffs and their efforts to improve the roster went a long way in the mental side of the players. The play on the field has been more inspired as the Angels have crept closer to a wild card spot.
The Angels made a big splash when they acquired Giolito from the Whitesox. Giolito is a top-of-the-rotation starter and having him as the team’s #2 starter behind Ohtani strengthens their starting rotation by giving them 2 legitimate #1 pitchers leading the rotation. With Lopez, the Angels were able to add depth to their bullpen. At the backend of their bullpen, closer Carlos Estevez has been as automatic as you can get, having converted every save opportunity. The addition of Moustakas is huge for the team, not only on the field but off the field. Moustakas brings postseason experience from his time with the Kansas City Royals. The experience he brings will go a long way in helping the team with what to expect as the playoff race heats up.
As the MLB season approaches the dog days of summer, the Angels fan base has reason to be excited. For the first time in a number of seasons, the Angels are serious contenders for a playoff spot late in the season. The front office deciding to keep Ohtani and add key players to make a push for a playoff spot, let the fans know the organization believes in this team. Not only the fan base, but the organization also let the players know they believe in this club through the moves they made. The renewed energy seen on the field is evident as the team looks to reward its fan base with a deep playoff run.
