Empty locker could signal end of Shohei Ohtani’s Angels career

Ohtani has had a tremendous season, hitting .304 at the plate with a league-leading 44 home runs. As a pitcher, he went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA, before the Angels shut him down after he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

He was still playing as a designated hitter until Sept. 3, when an oblique injury sent him to the bench. Now it appears that with 14 games remaining, Ohtani suddenly emptied his locker — even trashing his water bottle. The Angels had no comment, suggesting the move took them by surprise as well.

Ohtani's agent indicated that he may undergo elbow surgery, and promised that the 2021 AL MVP would be hitting in 2024. Emptying his locker could signal that he wants to get whatever medical procedure he requires over with as soon as possible.

But such a dramatic gesture suggests unhappiness with the club, where Ohtani has played for six years, winning MVP and Rookie of the Year Awards but never making the playoffs. It could also be unhappiness with the medical staff. 

One of the Angels' prized free agent acquisitions during the 2019 offseason, third baseman Anthony Rendon, revealed that the club had initially misdiagnosed his leg injury as a bone bruise when it was a fractured tibia.

Ohtani has said he "wants to win" and it doesn't seem as though Anaheim is the place for that. Despite the presence of future Hall of Famer Mike Trout alongside Ohtani, the Angels are 68-80, almost certain to finish with a losing record for the eighth consecutive year.

The Angels still want to bring back the wildly popular Ohtani, but cleaning out his locker sends a strong signal that he's done. That's bad news for the Angels and good news for Ohtani's many suitors. If Los Angeles can't keep him in his locker, it's unlikely they can lock him up in free agency.