Will the Angels trade Shohei Ohtani? Maybe here’s the better question: Should the Angels trade Shohei Ohtani? The reigning AL Most Valuable Player is set to become a free agent after the 2023 season, and he has often and openly talked about his desire to win, about competing for World Series titles.
That doesn’t seem likely with the Angels at this point. Ohtani joined the club before the 2018 season, and the Angels are 50 games under .500 since then, with a .429 winning percentage this year that’s the worst of the stretch. And the near future looks especially bleak with the news this week about the back injury that could plague Mike Trout the rest of his career. Even though he likes the franchise, Ohtani seems unlikely to sign a long-term extension to stay in Anaheim.
MORE: MLB trade deadline tracker: Latest news, moves and rumors
So if he’s not going to be wearing an Angels uniform in 2024 and beyond, the only rational thing for the Angels to do is trade him at some point between now and the 2023 midseason trade deadline. And if that’s really an inevitability, the best way to extract the most value in a trade return is to deal him right now, when an acquiring team could get two playoff runs with Ohtani atop both the rotation and the lineup.
The Angels have said publicly that they’re not really interested in dealing Ohtani, and it’s easy to understand why. He’s a talent unlike anyone we’ve seen in baseball since Babe Ruth, and he does things on a nightly basis that might have seemed impossible before his arrival. And baseball fans in his home country, Japan, love Ohtani as much as any group of fans love any baseball player. That’s hard to give up.
But, again, if the reality is that he won’t be around by 2024 regardless of what the Angels want, maybe it’s time to move him. Here’s what sources told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal about what Angels GM Perry Minasian — who is reportedly doing his duty and listening — might be looking for in a potential trade: “The Angels would seek established major leaguers, trying to fulfill their goal of returning to the postseason as quickly as possible.”
So, as Rosenthal noted, that’s a little different from what the Nationals want for Juan Soto: actual MLB players instead of multiple elite close-to-ready prospects. So here’s the question: What type of package of players would be acceptable?
For most any star with 1 1/2 years left before free agency, the idea of trading two current big-leaguers would most likely be a non-starter. But Ohtani is special, obviously. Why not trade the Angels a starting pitcher and a hitter, considering Ohtani fills both roles? But the Angels aren’t going to deal one Ohtani for two players who basically just replace him. So would teams have to add in a third big league player? And it’s not crazy to imagine that every player the Angels get in return would have to have at least 2 1/2 years left of club control (or a contract) because that extends the window. Also, Ohtani won’t be traded for fringe MLB players. Think impact guys.
As you can imagine, there aren’t a ton of contenders who could afford to move young, contributing big leaguers off their roster right now, even with Ohtani as the prize. Here are a few that could make it happen while remaining a contender in 2022.
Could the Padres trade for Shohei Ohtani?
Why they make sense: It still feels like the Padres would be more likely to trade for and try to extend Juan Soto, but if that acquisition price is too crazy, Ohtani would be a huge addition, too. Imagine trading for Ohtani to add to the lineup at basically the same time as Fernando Tatis Jr. returns; he’s expected to start a minor league rehab next week. The Padres are solidly in the second NL wild-card spot right now, but after the disappointment of last year’s second-half collapse you can bet they’re not going to stay silent at this trade deadline.
The trade chips: Obviously, not all of these players would be included in a package for Ohtani. But these are the types of young big leaguers (or close-to-the-bigs players) who could help the Angels win sooner than later.
INF Jake Cronenworth, club control through 2025
SS C.J. Abrams, rookie
SP MacKenzie Gore, rookie (elbow issue clouds this)
1B Eric Hosmer, under contract through 2025 (Padres would have to pay most of this cash)
1B Luke Voit, club control through 2024
SP Blake Snell, contract through 2023
OF Trent Grisham, club control through 2025
OF Esteury Ruiz, rookie
RP Ryan Weathers
MORE: MLB trade deadline predictions: Where will Juan Soto, other big names land?
Could the Cardinals trade for Shohei Ohtani?
Why they make sense: The Cardinals are seen by most insiders as the team most capable of producing a package of players the Nationals would want, but it’s not just about the prospects such as Jordan Walker and Masyn Winn. There’s a plethora of youngsters in the bigs already, too. And why would the Cardinals want Ohtani?
Imagine a lineup that starts like this …
1. Ohtani, 21 homers, .844 OPS
2. Paul Goldschmidt, 24 homers, 1.036 OPS
3. Nolan Arenado, 18 homers, .887 OPS
And imagine a rotation that starts like this …
1. Ohtani, 2.80 ERA
2. Adam Wainwright, 3.28 ERA
3. Miles Mikolas, 2.87 ERA
Yeah, that’ll play in October. And because the Angels reportedly want MLB players, that takes Walker out of the mix, which should be fine with the Cardinals. He’s an immense talent, the type of talent that could hold up a Juan Soto deal should the Nationals insist. Finding the right mix of three or four players might be tough, but there are lots of options on this roster.
The trade chips: Some combination of these players could help the Angels win sooner than later.
2B (or 3B) Nolan Gorman, rookie
1B/DH Juan Yepez, rookie
OF Dylan Carlson, club control through 2026
OF Tyler O’Neill, club control through 2024
C Ivan Herrera, rookie
SP Matthew Liberatore, rookie
SP Dakota Hudson, club control through 2024
P Andre Pallante, rookie
P Jordan Hicks, club control through 2023
MORE: The 20 MLB players most likely to be traded by the deadline
Could the Dodgers trade for Shohei Ohtani?
Why they make sense: Because, folks, the Dodgers are always in on everybody. They have the money, they have the prospects and they have the young players to make a deal like this happen. And, they have the motivation — they’ve won 91 or more games nine years in a row (and are on pace for 108 this year) — but only have one World Series title in that stretch. Just being honest, that’s not enough.
And, even as good as they are, they have the need. Cody Bellinger has a .645 OPS. Max Muncy’s OPS is .612. At 37 years old, Justin Turner is still good, but not what he used to be. The rotation has been solid, but the Dodgers know as well as anyone you can never have too many big arms when making an October playoff push.
The trade chips: For the Dodgers, it would probably take two of these three, then a close-to-ready prospect or two.
2B Gavin Lux, club control through 2026
SP Dustin May, club control through 2025 (at minor-league rehab stage of TJ recovery)
SP Tony Gonsolin, club control through 2026
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July 28, 2022 at 11:57PM
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