The Angels had great hopes for the second half after acquiring multiple top deadline components such as Lucas Giolito, C.J. Cron, and Randal Grichuk. Shohei Ohtani’s future and where he’ll end up in free agency have raised some doubts about whether they should’ve sold him at the deadline.

Front-end teams may have benefited from Ohtani’s output, as he is on his way to yet another Most Valuable Player Award. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, one American League East opponent attempted to acquire him, demonstrating a willingness to trade up valued prospects:

At the trade deadline, the Tampa Bay Rays were among the teams avidly seeking Shohei Ohtani and were willing to sell three of their top ten prospects, including top prospect Junior Caminero.

With the Los Angeles Dodgers known to be interested in Ohtani, the Angels intend to offer the two-way star a long-term contract that should compete with other top offers.

Ohtani is set to be among the highest-paid sportsmen in baseball history, despite the fact that his recent elbow surgery will prevent him from pitching in 2024.

Angels will make a qualifying offer to Shohei Ohtani.

Minasian is tasked with addressing Ohtani’s complicated predicament now that he is on the open market.

Ohtani is almost certain to turn down the qualifying offer, which is worth roughly $20.5 million for the 2024 season. The qualifying offer has increased from $13.3 million in 2012 to what it is expected to be in 2024. Players who have been tagged have five days to accept a hefty one-year pay or decline it in the hopes of signing a longer-term contract.

The Angels profit from a cheap payroll since they have a large number of players on their Major League roster who are on pre-arbitration contracts. With plenty of leeway, the front management must still figure out how to approach free agency.