Which Teams Are in on a Possible Shohei Ohtani Trade?
Superhuman; exceeding ordinary human powers, according to the dictionary. But to baseball fans, the definition of superhuman is Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani is no ordinary Major League Baseball player; he’s a two-way athlete. Born in Oshu, Japan, Shohei Ohtani is the only MLB player to pitch and hit regularly. Like any other starting pitcher, he’s in the Angels 6-day starting rotation. The only difference is that when Ohtani takes the mound, he’s also in the lineup.
Shohei Ohtani has been one of the most jaw-dropping players in Major League Baseball ever since he made his debut in 2018. After his first season, he ended with a .285 batting average while maintaining a 3.31 ERA. That same year he earned AL Rookie of the Month twice and was also the AL Rookie of the Year. Ever since then, the rest is history. In 2021 he was awarded the AL MVP, AL Silver Slugger, and the MLB Player of the Year. Ohtani has become one of the biggest anomalies in all of sports. Additionally, Ohtani’s awards go beyond the United States. This year he was awarded the World Baseball Classic MVP after winning the tournament with Japan. This season, Ohtani continues to show his greatness as he’s batting .302 with a 1.068 OPS. He also holds the most home runs in the league so far at 35. On the mound, Ohtani holds a 3.71 ERA with 148 strikeouts. It goes beyond saying that Shohei Ohtani is one of the greatest players in baseball’s modern era, which is why every team will make an effort to acquire him.
As the trade deadline approaches, general managers are starting to get together and decide whether they will buy or sell players at the deadline. For the Los Angeles Angels, it looks like it will be a last-minute decision. They are currently 50-48, tied for third in the AL West, and 7.5 games behind the first-place Texas Rangers. Statistically, they are currently a winning team and not far from securing a playoff spot. By being only 3.5 games behind in obtaining a wild card spot, the Angels might look at making a playoff spot this year. For teams in these types of situations, it could be hard to decide whether to take the risk and buy players or standoff. According to Angels owner, Arte Moreno, he won’t trade Ohtani if it looks like his team might have a chance to compete. The Angels are set to face the Tigers, Blue Jays, and Braves at the end of the month. The outcome of those series’ may heavily impact Moreno’s decision on the team.
As for other teams in the league, there are many that are looking to compete this season. A few teams looking to be in the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes are the Dodgers, Yankees, Rays, and Rangers. The trend between at least three of those times is that they have a lot of depth financially. It is without a doubt that Ohtani will go for a lot of money if traded; therefore, the only teams realistically in contention have large pockets. The Los Angeles Dodgers, who are currently 57-40 and first in the NL West, are rumored to be at the top of the list, especially since they did not make any big moves in the offseason. The 2020 World Series champions are known for having the best of the best on their team, and with a world superstar on their team, it only seems fitting. The Dodgers are arguably the most well-known team in Major League Baseball, as they have one of the largest fan bases. With that, acquiring Ohtani would exceed his exposure even more. Logistically, the Dodgers don’t need Ohtani this season, at least not as a designated hitter. The current Los Angeles DH, JD Martinez, has shown recent improvement and has provided a lot of power for the Dodgers lately. In his last seven games, he has put up a .345 batting average with 11 RBIs. With this, it seems like the Dodgers don’t necessarily need Shohei Ohtani, but it would not be surprising if they splurged this deadline.
The New York Yankees are also among the teams interested in Shohei Ohtani. As the Yankees currently sit in fourth place in the AL East, they could definitely use a boost in the second half. The question is whether Brian Cashman is willing to spend money when the Yankees are currently at the bottom. With the Yankees having a 52-47 record on the season so far, they could still compete as they are only two games out of a wild card spot. Adding Shohei Ohtani to the Yankees roster could be a help as they are currently without Aaron Judge. Similar to the Dodgers, the New York Yankees are contenders in the Ohtani sweepstakes primarily because of their large budget.
A team that would really benefit from Shohei Ohtani would be the Tampa Bay Rays. After starting out as one of the hottest teams in baseball, they have simmered down to second place in the AL East. After only winning their last four games out of ten, the Rays are in a spot to boost their lineup. Hitters such as Wander Franco and Randy Arozerana have hit a slump, as both have a batting average below .200 in their last 15 games. Although the Rays maintain a steady lead over the rest of the teams in the AL East, the Orioles seem to be their biggest competitor. By adding a powerful bat such as Shohei Ohtani, the Rays could get that boost in the lineup that they are currently missing. Additionally, Ohtani could improve their current pitching depth. With Drew Rasmussen and Jeffrey Springs out due to injuries, Ohtani could fit into the starting rotation alongside Shane McClanahan and Zach Eflin. Above all, the Rays are the most probable suitors as they have prospects to offer. As they are amongst organizations with the top 10 farm systems, they could certainly put together a package of future stars.
The final team that I believe could land Shohei Ohtani would be the Texas Rangers. A team that started out strong has now won 6 of their last eight games coming out of the All-Star break. As they sit in first place with a 58-41 record, three games ahead of the second-place Astros, the postseason is looking ideal. With the best team batting average in the league, the Rangers are certainly making their mark. Although their hitting is great, and they have one of the best pitchers in the league, Nathan Eovaldi, Shohei Ohtani could be a suitable permanent DH as well as a new arm to the rotation. For the Angels, this potential trade may work more in their favor as they have an opportunity to secure a few top prospects from a division rival. If the Texas Rangers are serious about making a long run in the postseason, Ohtani could fill in for the current loss of Jacob DeGrom.
In conclusion, Shohei Ohtani could be one of the largest trade pieces to date. As he continues to break records and make history, it is without a doubt he will earn a large contract. For Ohtani, that’s the least of his worries as he’s currently focused on the Angels’ potential postseason run in October. The final decision is up to Arte Moreno, and whether he will trade Ohtani this deadline is still up in the air. So as for now, the rumors continue, and many wonder where will MLB’s superhuman go.