ESPN MLB Insider Jeff Passan is well-known in baseball circles for his ability to drop bombshell rumors about player movement. And his latest scoop on Los Angeles Angels’ two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani more than meets the mark.
Passan reportedly believes Ohtani “could be traded” and “will definitely” leave Anaheim if the Angels fail to qualify for postseason play this season. This isn’t necessarily a groundbreaking development, as rumblings of these sentiments have bubbled up in recent months, but it does reinforce the possibility of a major blockbuster move this summer.
Shohei Ohtani could be traded and 'will definitely' leave the Angels if they fall out of playoff contention this season, per @JeffPassan pic.twitter.com/p8WFzXOwtP
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) April 20, 2023
An Ohtani mid-season trade, which was once perceived as unlikely during the winter, has now progressed to becoming feasible. And that alone is major news regarding the sport’s most unique talent.
So now that we have this bombshell rumor, it’s time to speculate. Where could the Japanese two-way player end up this summer should he be moved? Let’s discuss.
4 teams that could trade for Shohei Ohtani this summer if the Angels fall out of contention
1. Tampa Bay Rays
There’s only one way for the Rays to acquire premium players like Ohtani: via trade. Quite simply, he’s a player they couldn’t come close to affording as a free agent, so if the opportunity arises this summer, Tampa should be chomping at the bit to make a deal.
Kevin Cash’s squad jumped out of the gates hot in 2023 with a 13-0 start, and still stand with the best record in all of MLB in April. The Rays continue to churn out quality players on a budget, and they’ve got one of the highest run differentials as a team as well.
Tampa should be viewed as a playoff contender this season, something Ohtani desires in his future team, and they have more than enough quality pieces that could entice the Angels.
And for what it’s worth, the Rays have made rental trades for the right player. For example, they traded RHP Joe Ryan to the Twins for a half-season of Nelson Cruz in 2021. There’s no reason why Ohtani wouldn’t be worth the risk, then, either.