Report: Angels won't trade Ohtani to Dodgers

The Los Angeles Angels are eliminating at least one suitor in the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes.

"Would they trade him to the (Los Angeles) Dodgers? No," MLB Network's Jon Heyman said Monday. "I spoke to somebody with the Dodgers, they realize he's not getting traded to the Dodgers. Even if you think that he can sign long term with the Dodgers, (Angels owner) Arte Moreno is not going to do that."

Heyman noted, however, that the Dodgers have a good chance to sign Ohtani long term once he hits free agency this winter, regardless of what happens prior to MLB's Aug. 1 trade deadline.

Moreno would seemingly not like to facilitate that union, though, and keep the two-way superstar away from the Angels' nearest rival.

Heyman notes that there's a roughly 25% chance of him getting dealt at all and also counts the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres as potential landing spots this winter.

With the Angels falling further out of postseason contention, conjecture has grown that the team will make Ohtani available via trade, mere months away from him potentially leaving on the open market. The Halos are 46-48, nine games back of the first-place Texas Rangers and six back of the final AL wild-card spot.

The 29-year-old is the current favorite to win his second AL MVP award, hitting .301/.386/.665 with 34 homers and 11 stolen bases. Meanwhile, on the mound, he's authoring a 3.50 ERA and 3.97 FIP over 18 starts while currently battling through blister issues.