Who Can Land $500M Approaching Shohei Ohtani in the Trade Deadline? A Complete Overview

Records were made for breaking, or so?Shohei Ohtani seemingly believes. The two-way sensation has been building up a storm in Major League Baseball with his skills, sparking debates. Since 2018, Sho-time has played with the Los Angeles Angels, widely believed to be a ‘mid’ team. And since then, Ohtani has flummoxed fans and analysts with his decisions. Now, where to next?

As the trade deadline looms closer, many believe the Halos will give him up for a better, longer guarantee of a player. After all, Ohtani hits free agency after 2023, and it’s almost certain he will switch teams. But some believe he might stay in LA, and the Angels will not hear of a trade to better their chances of resigning him.

Who is right? Who is wrong? Only time will tell, but meanwhile, if a trade does happen, there are a few teams that could benefit and serve the Halos equally in return.

Teams That Have the Chance and Possibility to Trade for the Two-Way Phenom

Baseball’s unicorn dominates the surrounding conversation right now, with only one question on everyone’s minds – where will Ohtani go next? Will it be the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Angels’ cross-town rivals? Or will it be the Tampa Bay Rays, who are second in one of the toughest divisions in the sport? Their winning mentality would undoubtedly mesh well with the Japanese talent.

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Maybe the Baltimore Orioles have surprised everyone and emerged at the top of AL East, past even Tampa Bay. But if Ohtani goes to Baltimore, according to Jon Morosi, he has to get back into pitching over the next few months.

The Orioles are full of young talent that could entice the Angels for a trade, but if any parties become willing, Ohtani’s blister must heal first. His hitting is better than ever, with a league-leading 35 home runs, which certainly wouldn’t hurt the O’s.

Talking about other dark-horse teams, the Atlanta Braves could make a trade. Do they need the help? Perhaps not, but the combined power of Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuna Jr. would be a marvel to witness.

The Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, and Cincinnati Reds have also emerged as contenders and might try to make an offer, but most analysts think of them as something other than solid prospects.

Why Can’t the Others Trade for Ohtani?

One thing is clear – only those teams willing to cash out at least $500 million should be on the list of contenders. Given his breathtaking performance and mind-blowing stats, analysts have long predicted insane numbers for Ohtani’s contracts.

A club doesn’t have to have the top payroll – everyone is witnessing where that is taking the New York Mets – but something enticing must come the Angels’ way too. So some teams that shouldn’t even try,?according to CBS, are the ones near the bottom going by whatever statistic one chooses.

The Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, Washington Nationals, Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, and Pittsburgh Pirates are among them.

Where Does Shohei Want to Go?

Wouldn’t it be a shock to see Ohtani stay with the Angels? The Japanese player has unofficially stated before that he would prefer the West Coast since it’s closer to his home country. But given the Angels’ constant underperformance in the past, is it the best place for him to stay?

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If LA is where his heart is, the Dodgers stand as the next best option. But they’re no consolation prize – they lead the NL West 55-40 and have been a historically good team. However, some sources say team owner Arturo Moreno is reluctant to send him to the Angels LA counterpart.

CBS even joked that Moreno would rather see him back with the Nippon Ham Fighters.

Will the Yankees’ Downfall Urge Them to Trade for Ohtani?

One major franchise that has been noticeably absent above is the New York Yankees and with good reason. In the 2022 offseason, they were expected to be in the playoffs contentions. But July is more than halfway through, and the Yankees show no signs of good performance. It’s a disappointing year in the Bronx.

If Ohtani were to don pinstripes, he would undoubtedly add some much-needed offense to the lineup. They boast enough star power alone, but it has been failing miserably this year. Plagued by injuries, the roster has suffered without Aaron Judge, Carlos Rodon, Nestor Cortes Jr., and Harrison Bader.

As Sho-time keeps saying, only time will tell what August 1 brings.

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