Shohei Ohtani Rumors: MLB Exec Says Angels' Arte Moreno Is 'Afraid to Ever Trade Him'

Shohei Ohtani's long-term future with the Los Angeles Angels is uncertain, but people around Major League Baseball don't think he will be traded before he hits free agency.

An anonymous executive told The Athletic that Ohtani won't be dealt by the Angels because they are afraid to trade him.

There were rumors that Ohtani could be on the market.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB Network, several teams called the Angels to inquire about the reigning American League Most Valuable Player.

The Angels wanted Ohtani to stay for the rest of the year.

"Wherever I'm playing, I'm going to give it my all and try to win that ballgame in front of me," Ohtani said. I'm with the Angels and I'm very grateful for what they've done. I adore my teammates. Right now I'm an angel, and that's all I can think about.

There will be a lot of pressure on the Angels to make a decision on Ohtani during the off-season and leading up to the trade deadline in three years.

One more year of control is left for Ohtani. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported in June that Angels officials met with Ohtani's representatives in spring training about an extension and "expressed an understanding" that any deal would need to surpass Max Scherzer's $43.3 million per season as the highest average annual salary in baseball.

Even if Ohtani is retained by the Angels, they will need to make a lot of changes in order to compete for a spot in the playoffs.

Mike Trout only played 36 games last season because of a strained calf, but he is still a great player. He is on the injured list with a back injury that will likely keep him out for the rest of his career.

As great as Trout and Ohtani have been, the Angels are on the verge of their seventh straight losing season. They haven't had a winning record in two years and haven't made the playoffs in three years.

If Ohtani is traded, the Angels would be able to start a roster rebuild. They would have to trade the best player in baseball.

Over the course of 18 starts as a pitcher, the 28-year-old has a 2.83 ERA with 152 strikeouts and has a 98% success rate.