Sitting on top of a very competitive AL East division, the Tampa Bay Rays have to like where they sit in the current power rankings and the MLB standings. But games won in July rarely translate to World Series victories. The Rays know this all too well.
While they already like their roster, the chance to add even more talent can never be overlooked by the Tampa Bay front office. Especially if a generational player such as Shohei Ohtani is actually on the trade block, as recent reports may suggest.
As expected, the Angels aren’t itching to trade the former AL MVP, who can dominate at the plate or on the mound. But, with Ohtani in the final year of his contract, Los Angeles may not feel they have much of a choice but to shop their face of the franchise.
Related: Should The Angels Trade Shohei Ohtani?
With an Aug. 1 trade deadline quickly approaching, the Angels will have to make their minds up soon. It likely won’t help that several teams from around the league will be gauging the market, trying to see what a trade may cost.
According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, the Rays could get involved in the Ohtani sweepstakes. They certainly have the prospects needed to negotiate a strong offer, have a small payroll, and could view the expected massive boost in attendance as their saving grace.
However, coming to terms on what’s likely to be a record-breaking contract in free agency could complicate things later on. Then again, maybe a short-term rental gives Ohtani a chance to see what life is like in Tampa Bay and be enticed by the tax-free possibilities in Florida.
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