The owner of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels, the team of Japanese two-way star Ohtani Shohei, has decided not to sell the club.

Arte Moreno began procedures last August to sell the team. The US business magazine Forbes reported that the club could be priced at close to 3 billion dollars.

US media said Moreno was negotiating with potential buyers. But on Monday, the Angels announced that he will remain the club's owner past the 2023 season.

Moreno said in a statement, "During this process, it became clear that we have unfinished business."

He added, "This offseason we committed to a franchise-record player payroll and still want to accomplish our goal of bringing a World Series Championship back to our fans."

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement, "Despite strong buyer interest in the Angels, Arte Moreno's love of the game is most important to him."

Moreno said, "as discussions advanced and began to crystallize, we realized our hearts remain with the Angels, and we are not ready to part ways with the fans, players and our employees."

Last October, the team signed Ohtani to a one-year deal worth 30 million dollars. He is expected to become a free agent after the 2023 season, unless he signs a new long-term contract with the club.

The Angels have already signed major contracts with two key players, Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon. Attention is focused on how Moreno will proceed with negotiations to extend Ohtani's contract.