Was ESPN unprofessional to ask Phil Nevin about Shohei Ohtani rumors?

ESPN asked Los Angeles Angels manager Phil Nevin about the rampant Shohei Ohtani speculation… in the middle of a game. 

The MLB trade deadline is only two weeks away. Naturally, the name dominating the conversation has been Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar in the final year of his contract.

While the Angels want to keep Ohtani around, the risk of losing him for nothing in free agency looms. Los Angeles is 46-48, now 9.0 games back of first place in the AL West. With postseason hopes fading — and, with them, the likelihood of keeping Ohtani around — the Angels could have to face a harsh, cold reality check before Aug. 1.

With a trade deemed “unlikely but possible” by MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, the chatter won’t stop any time soon. For the Angels and manager Phil Nevin, however, the hope is that those rumors can at least stay off the field.

ESPN asks Los Angeles Angels manager Phil Nevin about Shohei Ohtani trade rumors mid-game

ESPN’s Buster Olney conducted his typical mid-game interview routine during the Angels-Astros game on Sunday. He decided to pick the brain of LA manager Phil Nevin — but not about anything related to what was unfolding on the field. Olney wanted to ask about Shohei Ohtani’s future.

Nevin’s response was simple and direct: Ohtani hasn’t brought up trade rumors and the Angels are focused on winning baseball games. LA has experienced a considerable slide in the standings over the last few weeks and, for now, Ohtani is part of the solution.

“Hopefully those rumors go away again,” were Nevin’s parting words. From the sound of it, the Angels don’t want to trade Ohtani. Unless LA receives a godfather offer, the likes of which we’ve never seen in baseball before, Ohtani will probably stay put for at least one more stretch run.

As for Olney, trade speculation is generally reserved for the post-game press conference at least. It’s not often a coach finds himself responsible for front office PR posturing in between innings. Of course Ohtani is the talk of the town — every MLB fan awaits the deadline with bated breath — but to bring it up mid-game feels like mild disrespect of the manager and the product on the field.

There will be thousands of questions asked and articles written between now and Aug. 1. Shohei Ohtani is the most unique star the game of baseball has seen in a while, maybe ever. Wherever he ends up next season, millions of fans around the globe will follow. It would be borderline journalistic malpractice not to ask Angels management about it. Just save it for when Nevin’s not in the middle of engineering his game plan in the dugout.

Ohtani is currently batting .301 with 34 home runs and 73 RBIs. He’s the most dangerous power hitter in the sport and he’s putting together a solid season on the mound too. He’s on track to earn his second MVP award.

Unfortunately, the Angels have been unable to build a consistent winner around Ohtani during his six years in the league. Now, his future is in doubt. Odds are this won’t be the last untimely Ohtani question Phil Nevin and the Angels face between now and the Aug. 1 trade deadline.