Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtanis' wishes don't come true as LA Angels whiff on Max Scherzer

The LA Angels whiffed on the biggest Major League Baseball free agent prize, pitcher Max Scherzer. 

Arte Moreno followed tradition and refused to throw a Brinks truck at the 37-year-old veteran hurler.

Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani have to be let down at the news. 

The move quashed the wishes of not only LA Angels superstars Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, but this entire fanbase.

The LA Angels lost out on 2020's free agent prize, pitcher Gerrit Cole, by not going the extra year on their contract offer. They have proven to not have learned their lesson. 

This move would’ve given LA Angels manager Joe Maddon multiple weapons on his 2022 pitching staff. A rotation of Max Scherzer, Shohei Ohtani, Noah Syndagaard, Patrick Sandoval, Reid Detmers and Jose Suarez would’ve been one of depth and versatility that LA Angels fans haven't seen in years. 

Instead we’re left with having to hope the leftovers are enough. Syndagaard fits the LA Angels model of giving a one-year contract to a hurler hoping to rebound to former glories. Thor is young enough that he may have a chance to once again continue his quest to scale the heights of his chosen profession. 

Aaron Loup was given a rare two-year deal. That level of commitment is almost unheard of from an Arte Moreno led front office, but Loup was actually in demand. Most pitching pursuits of the LA Angels front office have to be desperate enough to take a one-year deal. 

With Robbie Ray signing with the Mariners and Jon Gray signing with the Rangers, all of the available free agent starting pitching has been taken. The fact that they went to American League West rivals is more than discomforting to LA Angels fans. 

Oh well, maybe next year.