MLB Rumors: Angels reliever's final exchange with Shohei Ohtani sure sounds like goodbye

If Shohei Ohtani's locker-clearing incident isn't enough proof that the star is done in L.A., this Angels player's quote should put the nail in the coffin.

Last week, Ohtani cleared out his locker on Friday night following medical tests that revealed the severity of his oblique injury. Ohtani was already planning to undergo surgery for the torn UCL in his pitching arm but was reportedly going to stay in the Angels' ballpark for the team's homestand against the Detroit Tigers.

Then, he left. Packed his bags and left. Ohtani basically ghosted the entire Angels franchise -- well, except for his short conversation with one reliever who happened to be at the right place at the right time.

Angels closer Carlos Estévez was there in the locker room when Ohtani started packing his stuff during the early innings of Friday's game, and he recently revealed to The Athletic the brief exchange he had with the two-way phenom:

"I asked him, 'Hey, what's going on?' And he told me the same that we all now know. I told him, I really respect what you do. This is really amazing to see a guy do this. Don't change. Be the same guy.'"

Estévez kept Ohtani's massive secret until the following day, when the Angels announced Ohtani would miss the rest of the season due to an oblique injury. Estévez's last words to Ohtani reveal as much respect as regret, a heartstring-tugging act of mourning, for he know he may never get to play with a generational talent like Ohtani again.

The show's over, folks.

MLB Rumors: Some Padres believe New Zealand man is spying on team

Think of the fakest name you can possibly think of. Don Tricker might rank pretty high on the list, and to some Padres players, this Tricker fellow could be a real Double-O spy straight out of New Zealand.

Let's back up a bit. Who is Don Tricker, and is he real? According to The Athletic, Don Tricker was hired as the Padres' new director of player health and performance after the 2017 season. Tricker was previously a "high performance manager" for a successful rugby team in New Zealand, and he was brought on by A.J. Preller to oversee multiple departments and serve in a broad role.

Tricker didn't possess a medical background and wasn't too familiar with the sport of baseball, making him a seemingly unfit figure to oversee the training staff and analytics department, as he was supposedly hired to do. So... what does Tricker do in San Diego?

Some Padres members believe this strange man hailing from New Zealand could be working as a spy for the front office.

It's Tricker, Don Tricker. Nice to meet you.

Six years after Tricker was hired, members of the Padres franchise are still confused about his specific role or purpose. Early on in his tenure, Tricker reportedly "frequented the clubhouse and sat in on player and staff meetings, quietly taking notes." One ex-Padres coach said of Tricker, "All he was doing was judging. He never provided any feedback to any coach or player."

The whole situation reads as extremely weird, and we're honestly here for the conspiracy takes. Why else would Preller have a high-paid, unqualified executive stalking the hallways of the clubhouse? Something suspicious is afoot....

MLB Rumors: If Astros whiff on Pete Alonso, they can go after Cody Bellinger

Mets star Pete Alonso's future in CitiField remains up in the air, and much ink has been spilled about whether the team will put him on the trade block this year. The latest snippet of news from Sports Illustrated reveals Alonso and the Mets are on the same page for a long-term deal in terms of the financials, but "they are apart when it comes to the amount of years."

The three-time All Star has attracted interest from a handful of teams including the Brewers and Cubs, and an offense-needy team like the Astros also remains in play for his services.

If Houston can't snag Alonso, though, they have the perfect backup plan in Cubs' Cody Bellinger.

Bellinger's versatility -- he can play outfield, first base, or DH -- makes him a valuable asset for the Astros, who are reportedly in the market for a left-handed hitter. Bellinger has been enjoying a tremendous season with the Cubs, slashing .310/ .354/ .537 with an OPS of .891, and the one-year prove-it deal he signed last offseason has clearly paid off. He has a 2024 mutual option on his current contract.

Bellinger's top rumored landing spots include the Giants and the Yankees, but the Astros could also make a lunge at the hot bat in Chicago. Could this winter be a big-spending offseason for Houston?