Ippei Mizuhara allegedly stole $16 million over two years from Shohei Ohtani in order to pay off gambling debts. Mizuhara is a longtime interpreter and friend to Ohtani.

Ohtani, referred to in the complaint only as a "professional baseball player," told authorities that he did not authorize the transfers.

Text messages showed that Mizuhara began gambling in September 2021 and began losing "substantial sums of money" later that year. Bank records also show that the phone number and email address on the account were changed to those associated with Mizuhara.

Investigators also relied on recorded phone calls from the bank in which Mizuhara falsely identified himself as Ohtani to "trick and deceive" bank employees into authorizing the transfers.

Mizuhara said he never bet on baseball. Mizuhara allegedly lost bets of nearly $183 million while winning bets of more than $142 million with a net loss of $40.7 million.

Concurrently, attorneys for Ohtani alleged that he had been the victim of a "massive theft."

Ron Washington called a team meeting after the Los Angeles Angels' loss on Saturday.

"Just wanted to let them know they've played only two games and we can't get off track," Washington said. "Our focus is on a 162-game championship season. Not two games. The two games haven't gone like we wanted, but we just got to make certain that we come to the ballpark ready to go."

The Angels bounced back with a 4-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.

L.A. had lost the first two games of the season by a combined score of 24-7.

Two games and two blowout losses led to a team meeting for the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday.

It's not how they drew up the start to their 2024 season, but new manager Ron Washington called it a necessary measure after Saturday's 13-4 road defeat to the Baltimore Orioles followed an 11-3 one in the team's opener.

"Just wanted to let them know they've played only two games and we can't get off track," Washington told reporters. "Our focus is on a 162-game championship season. Not two games. The two games haven't gone like we wanted, but we just got to make certain that we come to the ballpark ready to go."

Longtime major league outfielder Kole Calhoun is retiring, he announced Friday night via Instagram.

"The day has come that I announce my retirement from Major League Baseball," Calhoun, 36, began his post. "I know how extremely lucky I am to even be able to say that. Baseball was always my dream, and to make that my reality fills me with gratitude.

"I have loved this game since I can remember so making this announcement weighs heavy on my heart. This day comes for all players eventually and I can honestly say that I have given this game everything I have and I walk away with no regrets."

The Los Angeles Angels appear "primed to land either [Jordan] Montgomery or [Blake] Snell when all is said and done," according to a report.

With Cody Bellinger now off the board, Montgomery and Snell are the top remaining free agents.

The Angels haven't made a ton of moves in free agency or trade after losing Shohei Ohtani to the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency.

Mike Trout has no desire to be traded and says that he has encouraged Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno to sign at least one of the remaining high-profile free agents.

Trout, whose $426.5 million contract with the Angels runs through 2030, has a full no-trade clause.

"The easy way out is just ask for a trade," he said. "There might be a time. Maybe. I really haven't thought about this. But when I signed that contract, I'm loyal. I want to win a championship here. The overall picture of winning a championship or getting to the playoffs here is bigger satisfaction [than] bailing out and just taking an easy way out. So, I think that's been my mindset. Maybe down the road if something's changed, but that's been my mindset ever since the trade speculations came up."

The Angels have made the playoffs just once in Trout's 13 years with the club.

Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon says baseball has "never been a top priority for me" and that he plays the sport "to make a living."

Rendon made his pointed remarks Monday as the Angels' position players reported to spring training camp. The injury-plagued former All-Star said his enthusiasm for baseball has remained the same throughout his career before being asked whether his perspective on the game has changed.

"It's never been a top priority for me," Rendon told reporters, according to The Athletic.

Less than 24 hours after saying he was still looking to add another bat, D-backs GM Mike Hazen did just that as the team agreed to terms with free-agent outfielder Randal Grichuk on a one-year contract with mutual option for 2025, a source told MLB.com on Saturday.

The club has not confirmed the deal.

Grichuk will earn $1.5 million as a base salary this year and the option for 2025 is $6 million with a $500,000 buyout. 

Players swept five salary arbitration decisions against major league teams on Tuesday, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went to a hearing against Toronto that will set a record whether the star first baseman wins or loses.

Baltimore outfielder Austin Hays and pitcher Jacob Webb won their cases along with Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward, Houston utilityman Mauricio Dubon and New York Mets reliever Phil Bickford. The unusual sweep gave players a 5-2 advantage with 11 cases still pending.

Reliever José Cisnero and the Los Angeles Angels agreed Saturday to a one-year, $1.75 million contract.

A right-hander who turns 35 on April 11, Cisnero was 3-4 with two saves and a 5.31 ERA in 63 games last year in his fifth season with the Detroit Tigers.