MLB Twitter turned on ESPN’s Buster Olney on Sunday after he asked Angels manager Phil Nevin about the mounting trade speculation surrounding Shoehei Ohtani midway through a game.
As the Angels closed out their three-game series against the Astros, Olney interviewed Nevin at the top of the fourth inning, inquiring what his conversations with the dual-threat star have been like amid the looming MLB trade deadline on Aug. 1.
“Really with him it hasn’t come up,” Nevin said. “It’s all business.
“We’re focused on winning baseball games right now and getting back to where we were a couple weeks ago and hopefully those rumors go away again.”
Some MLB fans were furious with Olney’s line of questioning and blasted the reporter during what was an eventual 9-8 loss for the Angels.
“Why ask this mid game?” one user asked of the exchange, which was conducted at the Angels dugout.
Another wrote, “These announcers are horrible! Stop talking about trading Ohtani and focus on the game!”
Some fans were surprised that Nevin kept his cool during the interview.
“Do better,” one person tweeted. “…. I am surprised nevin was polite with his response.”
Another added, “This is so unprofessional.”
The Angels are not expected to trade away the impending free agent if they remain in playoff contention.
The 29-year-old Ohtani has never reached the postseason in his six seasons with the Angels, who currently sit in third in the AL West with a record of 46-47.
Fox Sports MLB analyst Eric Karros said on Saturday he believes a trade to the Giants would be logical.
“He’s going to be playing for the Giants,” Karros said. “… That makes all the sense in the world. They have the wherewithal to do it, then they get him for a couple months to try to court him so they can sign him in free agency.
“… And you don’t think that the Angels wouldn’t want to trade him to San Francisco to spite the Dodgers? C’mon, this is drama.”
The Yankees have also emerged as a possible suitor for the 2021 AL MVP.
