10 teams that need to trade for Shohei Ohtani right now (and have the prospects to do it)

Jul 18, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) looks on before the 2022 Home Run Derby at Dodgers Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 18, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) looks on before the 2022 Home Run Derby at Dodgers Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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Shohei Ohtani, Yankees, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Cardinals
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 28: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels leads at bat during a game against the San Diego Padres at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 28, 2021 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

The Colorado Rockies

The Rockies are a team that is most likely not going to make the playoffs. However, as GM Bill Schmidt told our sister site, Rox Pile, earlier this week, the club still could be buyers at the trade deadline.

Entering this season, they were banking on strong starting pitching but they have had some injuries and some of them have regressed. As a result, their starters had an ERA of 5.00 entering Thursday, which was 28th in the sport.

Offensively, despite the common narrative, the Rockies do not have a great offense. They have primarily been using Charlie Blackmon as their DH since he is 36 years old and not a great defensive outfielder.

They believe that they can get back in the playoff race this season and will be contenders next season so if that’s the case, they should be willing to give up some of their prospects (including five in MLB’s Top 100) to make that a reality.

The San Francisco Giants

The Giants are on the periphery of the playoff picture right now as they have lost seven of their last 10 games, dropping them to a record of 49-50, or three games back of the NL Wild Card spot. Acquiring Shohei Ohtani could be the shot in the arm that the Giants need to get to the playoffs as they did last year, when they won 107 games.

They have a decent farm system as they have three Top 100 prospects (two of which are in the top 50). They also have two starters that have been below league average on the season. Offensively, their primary DH has been Tommy La Stella, who has an OPS+ of 75.