The MLB trade rumors are heating up as the trade deadline quickly approaches next week. All eyes are on Los Angeles Angels’ two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani as the trade deadline nears.
While the Angels remain in contention, Ohtani offers Los Angeles a huge opportunity to stock the prospect cupboard with some top-tier guys and MLB-ready talent.
However, Shohei chose the Angels for a reason. Trading the unicorn would wave the white flag that they don’t think they can bring him back in free agency.
So, where might the Angels superstar land if these Shohei Ohtani trade rumors come to fruition?
Odds as of Tuesday, July 25th, 10 a.m. ET
Shohei Ohtani Next Team Odds: Top 5 Landing Spots
Before we get into any potential suitors, the Los Angeles Angels are -265 to retain Ohtani through the trade deadline. It might be the most boring bet, but it’s likely the best bet on the board.
As mentioned above, the Angels are still within a handful of games (4.5 as of writing) of the third wild card spot in the AL. Teams in a similar position would consider buying, and the Angels could do just that — especially with Mike Trout set to return sometime in August.
If Ohtani is moved, what are the top five landing spots?
Shohei Ohtani Next Team Odds: Los Angeles Dodgers (+900)
The Dodgers swooping in to land Ohtani from their in-state rivals would make sense. Ohtani likes living in Southern California, and the Dodgers have more or less built their roster around landing a big fish this offseason.
Why not speed that up with a trade for Ohtani?
Some counted out the Dodgers prior to the season due to the perceived improvements by the Giants, Padres, and Diamondbacks. But the Dodgers are still 57-42 — four games ahead of both the Giants and Diamondbacks and ten games clear of San Diego.
It might make more sense to wait for free agency to see if the Dodgers can woo Ohtani. However, getting him for a playoff run could put the Dodgers over the top. Oh yeah, the Dodgers had the second-best farm system in all of baseball prior to the season.
Shohei Ohtani Landing Spots: San Francisco Giants (+1000)
Ohtani chose to play in California, so, understandably, the top two teams on this list would allow Ohtani to stay in the state.
The Giants are another team that fits the bill for Ohtani: competitive, in his preferred location, and they’ve shown that they’re willing to buy with previous trade-deadline acquisitions. Hell, they even signed Arson Judge — nearly bringing Aaron in as well — and had an agreement with Carlos Correa on a big contract.
San Francisco is willing to do what it takes to land a big fish. Ohtani would be that big fish. Making a trade for Shohei Ohtani makes sense on the field, but the odds are still stacked against the Giants.
Shohei Ohtani Next Team Odds: Baltimore Orioles (+1100)
The Orioles? Really?
Well, yeah. In case you haven’t been following baseball as closely this season, the Orioles sit atop the AL East and are one of the most young, fun teams in baseball.
Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson already formed a pretty solid duo in the middle of the lineup, but the Orioles are also getting contributions from Anthony Santander, All-Star Austin Hays, and Ryan Mountcastle. They’ve recently called up top prospects Colton Cowser and Jordan Westburg as well.
The Orioles have the pieces to land Ohtani if the Angels choose to move him. Ohtani ending up in the AL East with a team that isn’t the Yankees (or Red Sox) would be interesting. Sure, a trade for Shohei Ohtani would be a franchise-defining move, but the odds are long on this.
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Shohei Ohtani Landing Spots: New York Yankees (+1200)
Oh, look, the Yankees are in on another superstar!
Pairing up Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge in New York would create the ultimate two-headed monster for the Yankees. The question is if Judge will be the same when — or if — he returns from his toe injury and if the Yankees would be willing to trade for Shohei Ohtani rather than open their checkbook this offseason.
The Yankees sit dead last in the AL East despite being six games over .500. They’re only 2.5 games back of a playoff spot, though, as the five AL East teams are joined by the Rangers and Astros among the top seven teams in the AL.
If Judge is returning and the Angels wave the white flag, the Yankees could see that as their signal to go all-in and appease a fanbase frothing at the mouth.
Shohei Ohtani Next Team Odds: Tampa Bay Rays (+1600)
One thing’s for sure: they’d have to take the tarps off the upper decks at Tropicana Field if the Rays were to land Shohei Ohtani via trade.
The Rays started off the season as the best team in the league, but they’ve largely struggled as of late. They were overtaken by the aforementioned Orioles. However, they still have a four-game lead for a playoff spot in the wild-card race.
Tampa Bay trading for Ohtani certainly would be interesting in the AL East arms race, but I don’t see it happening. It’d be a very anti-Rays move. They usually develop players to trade them away rather than pony up for the big stars.
