This is the online version of our daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning. Here’s Mike Sykes.
Just when you think things can’t get worse for the Los Angeles Angels, they absolutely do. Just like always.
The organization took a big bet on itself when it opted not to trade Shohei Ohtani at this month’s trade deadline despite his impending free agency. Ohtani made it clear he wants to play for a contender. The Angels clearly aren’t that. The team’s best option was to trade him and launch a rebuild. Los Angeles did the opposite.
Now, we’re here. Shohei Ohtani won’t pitch again this season after reportedly tearing his UCL in his right elbow, per Jeff Fletcher of the OC Register.
Shohei Ohtani has a torn UCL and won’t pitch again this season.
— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) August 24, 2023
It’s unclear if Ohtani will need surgery again. This is the same arm he had Tommy John surgery on back in 2018. If he does opt for surgery, he won’t pitch for the entirety of the 2024 MLB season. As for the immediate future, it’s also unclear if he’ll hit again at all this season.
RELATED: Before his injury, Ohtani was making a run for the Cy Young.
There’s no way around it. This Ohtani saga has ended in complete disaster. The Angels keeping him around didn’t work out for anybody. Not only did the team not capitalize on having a generational talent on its roster by missing out on the postseason, but now Ohtani may also miss out on hundreds of millions of dollars because of this. It’s also unclear how much he’ll pitch for the rest of his career considering the wear and tear on his arm. This is not what anyone wanted to see here.
It’s so easy to blame the Angels for this, but y’all — I’m sorry. I just can’t fault the Angels for going for it here with the best player in baseball.
Come on, man. Who wants to be known as the franchise that traded away the best player in the sport? He’s the MVP, y’all. That’s like if the Cavaliers traded LeBron James back in 2009. You just don’t do that, man.
It’s one thing to be snake-bitten as the Angels are, but it’s another thing to never aspire for more. The Angels tried. The team wanted to compete. It wanted to give its fans something — someone — to be proud of. That’s not a bad thing. That’s good for baseball.
Look, I don’t have any answers here as to what should’ve happened or what should be done now. I’m just heartbroken all around for everyone.
I’m sick for Shohei because of the impact this may have on his career. I’m sick for the Angels because they went for it and they failed. I’m sick for the entire sport that might lose out on one of the best and most entertaining talents we’ve ever seen.
This just sucks all around. Please, get well soon, Shohei. Baseball will miss you dearly.
Quick hits: The 49ers never gave Lance a chance … James Harden’s beef with Daryl Morey is a complicated onion … and more
— Here’s Robert Zeglinski’s brilliant column on the 49ers never truly giving Trey Lance a chance. After just four starts and 102 career passing attempts, the team is done with him. What a shame.
— Prince Grimes has a Layup Lines theory about what the true intentions of James Harden’s comments about Daryl Morey were. He wanted him fired. I think I agree. Hit that subscribe button for me when you’re done reading.
— Nike has gamified Kobe Bryant’s legacy and nothing about that feels good or right.
— Here’s Mitchell Northam on everything we’ve learned through two episodes of the Ahsoka series so far.
Shoutout to y’all. Thank you for reading. Have a fantastic day! Let’s chat again tomorrow.