Shohei Ohtani will remain in Los Angeles for the rest of this season, at least.
After weeks of openly flirting with the notion of trading the 2021 AL MVP, it was reported late Wednesday night that the Angels plan to keep Ohtani and make a push to end their postseason drought. The team struck a deal with the Chicago White Sox to prove that point, sending two of its top prospects to the North Siders in exchange for Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez. It’s a risky maneuver for the Halos and their fans. If they can make a run in the playoffs, even one that falls short of the World Series, it will likely have been worth it. If they fail to qualify for the postseason and Ohtani walks away for nothing in the offseason, general manager Perry Minasian will have thrown away a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to replenish what has been one of the worst farm systems in all of baseball. No pressure.
Which brings us to today’s quiz of the day. In 1975, MLB did away with the reserve clause, making it easier for players, including MVPs, to change teams. So with that in mind, how many former MLB MVPs since then who have only known one franchise for their entire careers can you name in five minutes?
Good luck!