There is a rumor that Shohei Ohtani could ask the Angels to trade him if the team doesn’t improve which would bring some NBA culture to the MLB. Here are some of the best suitors for Ohtani if this were to happen.
San Diego Padres
The team that should be camping in line like a middle-aged mom for the new iPhone. The Padres had a disappointing season as they were possible World Series contenders to missing the playoffs entirely. The Padres tried to make a big splash by acquiring Max Scherzer and Trea Turner at the deadline which they ultimately lost the bidding war to their division rival Los Angeles Dodgers. Ohtani would immediately add another arm to that rotation and would add a much-needed dominant lefty bat in the lineup if the league moves to a universal DH. They would have to pay some premium prospects but if you want to be contenders these are the moves you make.
Padres Acquire: Shohei Ohtani
Angels Acquire: Luis Campusano C, MacKenzie Gore LHP, and Justin Lange RHP
Angles would get 3 of Padres top 10 prospects and could have a potential ace in Gore and a potential all-star catcher in Campusano. Angels get younger and hopefully start a full rebuild while the Padres push their chips into the middle and go for the gold.
San Francisco Giants
The Giants have surprised everyone including themselves with what they accomplished this year. Sitting atop the NL West in which the Dodgers were the heavy favorites is quite the achievement. Like the Padres they could use a top pf the rotation guy and Ohtani would be perfect. Their GM came from the Dodgers who are known to make big moves if they make sense and expect the same from San Francisco. Beautiful weather and a diverse city is exactly what Ohtani would be looking for from a personal standpoint and from a professional one he goes to one of the historic franchises in baseball and sports as a whole.
Giants Acquire: Shohei Ohtani
Angels Acquire: Luis Matos OF, Patrick Bailey c, Matt Mikulski LHP, and Manuel Mercedes RHP
Giants acquire their 1 or 1a guy and Angles get a young OF who can eventually replace Trout in Matos along with 2 much-needed pitching prospects and a catching prospect in Bailey.
New York Yankees
Last on this shortlist is the Bronx Bombers and of course, they would be a great fit. The Yankees wanted Ohtani when he came over to the states but lost him to the Angles and now they have a chance to finally get him. New York is known for having stars and there’s no bigger star right now than Ohtani. Ohtani is doing something that hasn’t been done in over 100 years and with the painful New York media and fanbase mad as hell as you could miss the playoff what better way to cool down the fire than get this generation’s, Babe Ruth. Yankees immediately become World Series favorites next season with the addition. Also, the Yankees NEED a lefty bat in that lineup to be a little more dynamic as an offense. Ohtani could hit 50 HR’s in New York with that short porch and help the Yankees get back to the World Series for the first time since 2009.
Yankees Acquire: Shohei Ohtani
Angles Acquire: Jasson Dominguez OF, Clarke Schmidt RHP, Yoendrys Gomez RHP
Angles acquire one of the best prospects in all of baseball in Dominguez with a get middle-of-the-rotation starter in Schmidt. The dark horse is Gomez and if you believe in your development he could turn out to be a top of the rotation arm.
