Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani is floating in MLB trade rumors every day. While more than a dozen teams are interested in acquiring the MLB MVP race leader, only a few clubs can reasonably afford to pull off a trade for him.
Acquiring Ohtani is complicated. Angels’ ownership is opposed to moving him and the AL MVP’s marketability and unique two-way skills further inflate his trade value. However, Ohtani will be one of the top MLB free agents in 2024 and teams give up less for half-season rentals.
Related: MLB trade tracker
Let’s examine the best trade destinations for Shohei Ohtani, with the Baseball Trade Values calculator providing some guidance on the value of deals.
4 best Shohei Ohtani trade packages
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers remain the favorites to sign Ohtani in free agency this winter. However, there would be plenty of benefit to adding him now, adding him to the clubhouse in the middle of a playoff race with an MVP-caliber bat added to the lineup and a front-line starter for the Dodgers’ playoff rotation.
Related: MLB power rankings
Naturally, this comes at a cost. The Angels might prefer not trading Ohtani to their cross-town rival, but the quality of the return matters. It’s one of the reasons why the Dodgers should be considered in the mix from now until the deadline.
- Los Angeles Dodgers trade: Diego Cartaya, Michael Busch, Andy Pages, Nick Nastrini
- Los Angeles Angels trade: Shohei Ohtani, Carlos Estevez
In this deal, the Angels receive the Dodgers’ No. 1 prospect (Diego Cartaya), who can be an All-Star level catcher if he reaches his potential. In addition, infielder Michael Busch (No. 34 in MLB.com’s top 100 prospects) could join the Angels’ lineup immediately. Outfield prospect Andy Pages (No. 54 in top 100) and pitcher Nick Nastrini (Dodgers’ No. 9 prospect)would replenish the Angels’ farm system dramatically, too.
As for the Dodgers, Ohtani slides behind Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman in the lineup while providing them with another ace to pitch in October. Furthermore, the club would have a few additional months to negotiate an extension with Ohtani.
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles have been one of the best stories in baseball in the last calendar year, emerging as a playoff contender with a young core. It’s even better in Baltimore right now because some of the top prospects in a loaded farm system have either already made their MLB debuts or are close to being called up.
It’s the perfect time for the Orioles to make a big move and there’s a clear need. Entering MLB games today, Baltimore ranked 18th in rotation ERA (4.57) with a cast of starting pitchers that has allowed the ninth-highest batting average (.254) to opponents). The Orioles need an ace to contend in the American League.
- Baltimore Orioles trade: Colton Cowser, Jordan Westburg, DL Hall, Dylan Beavers
- Los Angeles Angels trade: Shohei Ohtani
In this scenario, Los Angeles focuses more on quality over quantity. Cowser is rated as the 12th-best prospect in MLB and could take over in the Angels’ outfield this year. Westburg, the 30th-best prospect in baseball, could also play for Los Angeles this summer. A pair of top-30 prospects who are MLB-ready headlines the deal, with DL Hall (21st overall pick in 2017) and Dylan Beavers (33rd overall pick in 2022) also becoming top-10 prospects in the Angels’ system.
Related: MLB playoff picture
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants have whiffed on superstars in recent years, including Bryce Harper and Aaron Judge. They’ll take a shot on Ohtani in free agency, but there’s greater incentive to pursue him now with the hope it could provide an advantage against San Francisco.
Immediately, Ohtani would function as the No. 2 starter behind Logan Webb to provide San Francisco with a playoff rotation it could trust in October. Far more importantly, Ohtani would help improve a lineup that ranks 19th in slugging (.402), 18th in batting average (.244) and 13th in runs scored (451) through 97 games.
- San Francisco Giants trade: Kyle Harrison, Luis Matos, Carson Whisenhunt
- Los Angeles Angels trade: Shohei Ohtani
Related: Highest-paid MLB players
San Francisco is paying a significant price here. Harrison, the Giants’ No. 1 prospect, is rated by MLB.com as the 11th-best prospect in baseball. Luis Matos, a 21-year-old outfielder, is a top-60 overall prospect and he could play for the Angels on Opening Day in 2024. Plus, Carson Whisenhunt is a rising pitching prospect who might be viewed as one of the best arms in the minor leagues within two years. It’s a lot to give up, but San Francisco desperately needs a star and Ohtani is perfect for the Giants. Plus, keeping him away from the Dodgers would be another boost.
Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers have demonstrated a willingness to take big swings. It’s worked out often (Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Nathan Eovaldi), but it can backfire (Jacob deGrom). With baseball back in Texas and this club emerging as a World Series contender, it’s time for the next move.
- Texas Rangers trade: Owen White, Luisangel Acuña, Jack Leiter, Sebastian Walcott, Justin Foscue, Cole Winn
- Los Angeles Angels trade: Shohei Ohtani
Similar to the Dodgers, Texas will likely have to pay more because it’s in the same division as the Angels. However, that added cost shouldn’t deter Texas from making a run at Ohtani. Owen White (44th in MLB Top 100 prospect) would be in the Angels’ rotation by next year. While infielder Luisangel Acuña (45th-best prospect in MLB) might not debut until 2025, he has All-Star potential at second base or center field.
Jack Leiter provides Los Angeles with another top-100 pitching prospect and shortstop Sebastian Walcott (99th overall in the top 100) is a teenager with an extremely high ceiling. It’s a lot for Texas to give up, but the Rangers would be able to keep Evan Carter and Brock Porter.
