It’s not yet known whether the Los Angeles Angels are going to deal two-way star Shohei Ohtani ahead of the Aug. 1 MLB trade deadline.
Recent reports suggest that the Angels are at least listening to inquiries about the likely 2023 American League MVP.
However, we can pretty much eliminate one possible contender from the list of landing spots. In what can’t be considered a surprise, the Angels are unwilling to move Ohtani to the cross-town rival Los Angeles Dodgers.
“Would they trade him to the (Los Angeles) Dodgers? No. I spoke to somebody with the Dodgers, they realize he’s not getting traded to the Dodgers. Even if you think that he can sign long term with the Dodgers, (Angels owner) Arte Moreno is not going to do that.”
MLB Network’s Jon Heyman on Shohei Ohtani trade talks
The embattled Moreno had in the past pushed back against the idea of trading Ohtani despite the fact that Los Angeles could lose him during MLB free agency for a mere draft pick. Now that the Angels are dangerously close to falling out of contention, a trade is at least somewhat likely.
However, there was no real chance in the first place that Ohtani would be sent to the Dodgers. The likelier scenario here is that he signs with the team during free agency.
Related: Sportsnaut’s updated MLB trade rumors
Shohei Ohtani trade market as of right now
The Angels are said to be looking for a package that starts with multiple top-100 MLB prospects. Los Angeles boasts a league-best nine in that category. With that team all but eliminated in the sweepstakes, things get a tad more interesting.
- Shohei Ohtani stats (2023): .301 average, 34 HR, 73 RBI, 1.051 OPS, 7-5 record, 3.50 ERA, 1.12 WHIP
A player of Ohtani’s ilk will draw a record return. In turn, contending teams have to weigh just how much they want to mortgage their future for a potential rental with the possibility that Ohtani can help them get over the top in 2023.
The San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees are two teams that have been talked about a whole lot in recent days. Both have a need. Each has been in the market for big-name players in the past. Remember, they went up against one another for Aaron Judge during free agency last winter before the reigning American League MVP opted to re-sign with New York.
The Los Angeles Angels are interested in engaging a surprising Baltimore Orioles team, too. There’s an obvious reason for this. Per MLB.com, Baltimore headed into the 2023 season with the league’s best farm system. That included eight of the top-100 prospects.
We highly doubt that Baltimore will mortgage its future for a potential rental given the long-term approach the organization has taken in recent years and how’s it is finally proving fruitful at the Major League level.
What we do know is that pretty much any contender will have interest in Ohtani. But there’s ways to go before anything concrete happens. Just don’t expect him to head to the Dodgers before free agency opens this winter.