The bidding war for Angels star Shohei Ohtani is on, but to acquire him, contenders should expect to send a haul of prospects back the other way.
Just last season, the asking price for Shohei Ohtani was astronomical. In fact, it seemed the Angels set it so high — several top-100 prospects and young MLB players, perhaps totaling six players — because they had no intention of dealing him whatsoever.
It would seem that remains the case. The Angels hope — nay, pray — that Ohtani will help lead an Angels postseason run that will sway him towards staying in Anaheim. However, the odds of that happening are slim at this point in time, which is why the organization is at least listening to offers on Ohtani. This time, it's for real.
Ohtani is the best rental player who has ever been available at the deadline. Yes, I said it. Any trade package to land the two-way star would have to include multiple top-100 prospects, and some young MLB talent as well.
There is no asking price for Ohtani right now because the bidding war has yet to begin. Opposing teams will set the price, and the Angels will sit and wait, hoping to receive as much value as possible for a once-in-a-lifetime talent.
Orioles trade package for Shohei Ohtani
Baltimore arguably can put together the best prospect package for Ohtani, as Jon Morosi of MLB Network pointed out when he theorized the O's as a possible suitor for the two-way star earlier this week.
While the O's have yet to really be identified as a suitor, they do have a strong farm system and plenty of young talent making its way to the big leagues right now.
Baltimore is in a unique spot. Yes, the Orioles want to improve their current major-league product as they battle for an AL East crown, but acquiring Ohtani would at the same time hamstring their farm system should they not prove able to retain him in free agency. For example, I named Jackson Holliday as their best trade asset. Holliday is one of the best prospects in all of baseball:
"The Baltimore Orioles system is loaded with talent. Out of those who have yet to make the big leagues, Jackson Holliday is the premiere player. Holliday is only 19 years old and a shortstop. He's a former No. 1 overall selection, and the son of former MLB All-Star Matt Holliday. Jackson is also the best prospect in all of baseball, so he's likely off the table in any trade. But we can dream."
The Halos would likely demand Holliday in this trade, but Baltimore would ideally find a way around trading their former top draft pick. Let's see if we can make it work.
This is…the best I can do for the Angels, really. Baltimore takes on Rendon's contract, which should lower Ohtani's value some. Urias is a capable third baseman to take some of his reps. Crowser and Ortiz are both top-100 prospects per MLB Pipeline, while Bradish is a No. 2 or No. 3 starting pitcher on a competitive team.
Shohei Ohtani rumors: Tampa Bay Rays trade package
Trading for a player like Shohei Ohtani is unusual for the Tampa Bay Rays, but stick with me. Tampa Bay has increased their interest in star players in recent years, even making an offer to Freddie Freeman in free agency. In an interview with Jim Bowden, Erik Neander made it clear that he has the full support of team ownership and didn't rule out trading for Ohtani.
With that in mind, the Rays are in freefall. Tampa's level of desperation is obvious, and a big move for Ohtani could be exactly what they need to right the ship. Now, the odds the Rays can keep a player like Ohtani around past this season remains to be seen. Ohtani prefers to be on the west coast, but playing for a contender in a quiet place like Tampa at least fulfill two of his free agency needs. Is it worth taking a shot?
If so, here is what a Rays trade package could look like.
In this trade, the Rays dig deep into their strong farm system to trade away four prospects, including Carson Williams who ranks in the top-20 per MLB Pipeline and plays a demanding shortstop position. Lowe offers some relief in the outfield and, at his best, is a solid slugger in right field.
Shohei Ohtani rumors: A San Diego Padres trade package
The Padres have plenty of questions of their own heading into what's expected to be a very complicated MLB trade deadline. San Diego has not performed up to par so far this season, and could even find itself selling off some assets in hopes of replenishing its farm system.
The Pads could make a rare trade offer to benefit the Angels: A star-for-star deal. While said move certainly couldn't be straight up, as Ohtani has more value as a two-way player, it would give San Diego a leg up in Ohtani negotiations this winter. Here's what I'm talking about:
Am I an insane person? Yes, you caught me. But first, let me explain.
Soto's value is diminishing rapidly, as his defensive ability has taken a hit this season. In fact, some pundits around baseball believe he projects as a DH, rather than a long-term corner outfielder. Add in that Soto is a Boras client and will demand a TON of money when he hits free agency in just over a year, and you can see why the Padres would have to add in a top-100 prospect as well to land Ohtani.
San Diego has an advantage in Ohtani contract talks in that they are on the west coast, set up to contend and a fairly quiet destination that a person like Shohei might seek out. By acquiring him early, they can start negotiating right away.
Parting ways with Snelling will be a tough sell for San Diego, as he's just 19 years old and ranked as the No. 82 prospect in all of baseball. By acquiring Soto and Snelling, the Angels receive a powerful hitter for at least the next year, and a potential top-of-the-rotation starter in the making.
Good luck convincing San Diego this is a fair swap, though.
Shohei Ohtani rumors: A SF Giants trade package
After missing out on Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa, the San Francisco Giants are in search of a star player to build their next playoff team around. Shohei Ohtani would be perfect.
The Bay Area is quiet enough — I for one would absolutely visit Ohtani's vineyard in Napa Valley — and the Giants are committed to winning long term. FanSided's Robert Murray listed the Giants as a potential trade suitor, though he did note it's more likely they wait until free agency.
"The Giants are being connected, both in the national and local media, to Ohtani. He would give them the superstar that they have desperately sought. He would be their best player since Barry Bonds and finally give the team the foundational piece to build around.
The Giants also have the young players — Kyle Harrison, Marco Luciano, Joey Bart, Luis Matos, among others — that would entice the Angels. But it's not in Farhan Zaidi's playbook to part with a significant portion of the farm system for a rental player, not even one of Ohtani's caliber."
All that young talent could be on the line if the Giants make an offer for Ohtani. Here is what I'm thinking.
Cobb is a controllable veteran starter who can slide right into the front end of the Angels rotation. Harrison is the best prospect in the Giants system, and ranked No. 11 in all of baseball. Bart has struggled in the bigs, but was formerly seen as the replacement for Buster Posey. Artega is a top-10 prospect in San Francisco's system, and still in his teens. If he can stick at shortstop he'll be a valuable commodity.
And THAT is what it takes to acquire Ohtani, fair or not.
Shohei Ohtani rumors: Come to Seattle!!
The Seattle Mariners have emerged as a top suitor for Shohei Ohtani. The Japanese sensation has spent two offseasons training in Seattle, and is very familiar with the area. At the MLB All-Star Game last week, Ohtani looked incredibly comfortable playing in front of M's fans, and even praised the city.
Now, it should be noted that trading for Ohtani will not come cheap. The Angels will expect a king's ransom for their two-way star, and the Mariners may be better suited waiting until MLB free agency this winter. With that, though, they run the risk of another team acquiring Ohtani and signing him long term. For now, the Mariners have momentum on their side. An in-division trade is unlikely, but the Halos would be unwise not to listen.
Seattle has plenty of young assets they could trade for Los Angeles, including several top-100 prospects. Here's what it would take:
Only four players? You bet.
In comparison to the other Ohtani trades, this may seem light. You'd be wrong in that line of thinking though.
Gilbert is an ace in the making, and would slide right into the top of the Halos rotation. Hancock is closing in on the majors himself and projects as a bottom-of-the-rotation starter.
Young is a top-100 prospect and just 19 years old. He plays shortstop. Ford, meanwhile, is already the Mariners No. 7 prospect and has yet to turn 19. He's a future top-100 prospect at this rate, and the M's value him highly.