Shohei Ohtani's departure from the Angels seems inevitable

It's believed that Moreno walking away from the highest sales price in baseball history diminishes Shohei Ohtani's chances of returning to Anaheim after this season, per SNY's Andy Martino. A franchise-altering decision could be in store for GM Perry Minasian at the July trade deadline.

Ohtani was likely to hit free agency before the non-sale decision, but a new owner willing to spend might have convinced him to stay. The 28-year-old two-way star will reportedly seek a deal as high as $500 million next winter. 

That price might be a stretch, but considering Ohtani is one of a kind, it's impossible to know for sure. The sweet spot might be $450 million over 10 years, but how certain is it that Moreno will commit to that and spend to improve the rest of the team?

Moreno mentioned in Monday's statement that the Angels' payroll for 2023 is the highest in the franchise's history. While this is true, it's only the tenth-highest payroll in the majors and doesn't exceed the $233 million luxury tax threshold. 

While the roster improved this offseason, the talent surrounding generational players Ohtani and Mike Trout still falls short of contention status. With Moreno at the helm, Ohtani's World Series hopes probably won't come true in Anaheim. 

If Ohtani is heading for the door, Minasian must decide on him by the deadline. Martino reports that a decision of this magnitude would have to be signed off by Moreno, but even then, a deal might not come to fruition. 

The Angels won't get a Juan Soto-type of return for Ohtani because he's a rental. They might, however, command multiple top prospects and potentially major leaguers with several years of control. If Ohtani gets dealt at the deadline, he'd still test the market unless given a massive extension.

Among the teams seeking to sign Ohtani in free agency are the cross-town Dodgers and New York Mets, with the Giants and Yankees in the mix. The Dodgers were relatively quiet this winter; their focus could already be on Ohtani. 

Martino also reports that Mets owner Steve Cohen has already begun discussing an Ohtani pursuit with upper-level Mets staffers. An all-out bidding war is already shaping up. 

In all likelihood, the Angels will play out the first half and reevaluate Ohtani's situation at the deadline. It might still be challenging to pull off a deal if he becomes available due to the price, but the Angels shouldn't let him walk for nothing (or at all).