The Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox are below the Orioles in the standings but they are still only 3.5 games back in the AL Wild Card hunt at 50-50.
Their starting rotation has been decimated by injuries as Chris Sale has missed (virtually) the entire season. They also only have four starters with double-digit starts … and two of them are currently on the IL.
The Red Sox also have the prospects, as they have four prospects in MLB.com’s Top 100, including two in the top 15.
Offensively, they need some help, particularly in the outfield. But neither Ohtani nor J.D. Martinez (their DH) have played a single inning in the outfield this season. The Red Sox are already a bad defensive team so do they really want someone in the outfield who hasn’t played out there this year?
The New York Yankees
The Yankees are one of the best teams in the sport. They have a good starting rotation and they also have a good offense … but they have had a lot of injuries.
Currently, their primary DH Giancarlo Stanton is on the injured list with Achilles tendinitis. Also, starting pitcher Luis Severino (lat) has yet to resume throwing after being on the IL for the last two weeks. Ohtani could replace both of them.
The Yankees have a good farm system (five top 100 prospects) so while they don’t necessarily “need” Ohtani, acquiring him might put them over the top, particularly against a team like the Astros in the playoffs.