Angels Owner Offers Insights on Whether Yankees or Mets Are More Likely to Land Shohei Ohtani in Rare Interview

The notion always seemed like a perfect fit: The most exceptional all-around player since Babe Ruth was destined for New York, and many assumed that Shohei Ohtani—the pitching and hitting phenom—would eventually join the Yankees.

However, with Steve Cohen’s acquisition of the Mets and his subsequent lavish spending on star players, coupled with the Yankees’ securing Aaron Judge on a nine-year, $360 million deal, the future of Ohtani in New York has become uncertain.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci, Angels owner Arte Moreno may offer insights into the potential rivalry between the Yankees and Mets for Ohtani, who remains under contract through 2023.

Moreno revealed that while he received five serious trade offers for Ohtani last season, he chose not to trade him this year as the Angels remain in playoff contention.

However, if the Angels fail to contend, Ohtani could become a free agent, potentially leaving the team with nothing in return. Ohtani has never played on a winning Angels team, often finishing at least 10 games out of first place, which might not be enough to convince him to stay.

Moreno emphasized that the team’s focus is on becoming a playoff contender, stating, “I’m not going to sit here and wonder what happens in an outcome we’re not planning for.”

Ohtani, who could command a $500 million deal as a free agent, was a close runner-up to Judge for the 2022 AL MVP. He avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $30 million contract for 2023. While linked to major market teams like the Yankees and Mets, Ohtani’s agent indicates that the Mets and Dodgers are likely to be the most aggressive bidders.

Moreno noted that trading Ohtani would require accepting less value because no team could fully compensate for his worth. He also expressed his views on the luxury tax, criticizing its effectiveness in curbing high-spending teams like Cohen’s Mets.

Moreno likened the situation to a card game where a player with more money distorts the competition, suggesting that the current luxury tax penalties are insufficient.