Jun 10, 2022; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) smiles while talking to New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) during the fifth inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
These three dream Shohei Ohtani trades should have fans hoping the Los Angeles Angels pull the plug.
The Shohei Ohtani comparisons to Babe Ruth are fair. The Los Angeles Angels star is one of the game’s most uniquely-gifted players of all time. He showed last year that he’s capable of pitching and hitting at a high level. Not since Ruth in his early days with the Boston Red Sox has anyone compared to what Ohtani is doing in Major League Baseball.
One more factor which could draw comparisons to the Great Bambino further would be a trade involving Ohtani. As unlikely as it would be, we can never say never when it comes to any sort of a deal. Ruth was traded after all. Sometimes even the greats get dealt for the funds to finance a play.
Ohtani is closing in on free agency with the 2023 season his last under team control of the Angels. Fans in other cities are already dreaming of the idea of having him on their roster. These three clubs, with pieces on the farm and the money to extend him immediately, should be dumping all of their pennies into the wishing well as they gush over the dream scenario.
1) Shohei Ohtani trade rumors: Mets
All bets are off for the New York Mets. With Steve Cohen owning the team, the mission is clear. The Mets want to win a championship even if it takes trading away the entire farm system to make it happen.
The Mets have been cautious about depleting their farm system too greatly. And while they don’t have the kind of fictional deal to make something like this happen, the Angels would definitely be intrigued by their number one prospect, catcher Francisco Alvarez. He and a few more young players might be enough to pry Shohei Ohtani away from the Angels—if only there was any chance of it actually happening.
Realistically, the Mets are probably more prone to wait to see which big name players get to free agency rather than make a trade for someone on Ohtani’s level. Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto is someone fans are already clearing room for. The moment he is traded to a club that can afford to extend him, the dream free agent signing might end for fans in Flushing.
Naturally, the Big Apple provides us with another obvious dream trade scenario headlined by Ohtani.