Dodgers Rumors: Hypothetical Shohei Ohtani Trade Package Would Be a Steal for Angels

The trade deadline is coming up on August 1st, and while there will be plenty of players swapped in the leadup to the deadline, the biggest name being talked about around MLB is the biggest name in the sport.

That being Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani.

Simply put, we’ve never seen a player like him before. And with the Angels on the verge of being on the outside looking in when it comes to the postseason, they could get unprecedented trade packages if they were to deal their unprecedented icon.

As per usual, the Los Angeles Dodgers are one of the top teams that could make a potential deal for Ohtani, and they certainly have the capital to entice the Angels to pull the trigger on a trade.

MLB.com put together a list of potential packages for Ohtani, and the one they listed for the Dodgers is… quite steep.

Dodgers Get: Shohei Ohtani

Angels Get: RHP Bobby Miller, C Diego Cartaya (Dodgers No. 1 prospect, No. 19 overall), INF Michael Busch (Dodgers No. 2 prospect, No. 34 overall), RHP Nick Nastrini (Dodgers No. 9 prospect), RHP Kyle Hurt (Dodgers No. 27 prospect) and C Thayron Liranzo

via MLB.com

Yes, it is Shohei Ohtani we’re talking about here — a man that continues to improve his case to be called the most talented baseball player in the long history of the sport.

But the Angels would be getting a young, promising MLB starter in Miller along with five total prospects, three of which could be everyday big leaguers in relatively short order. And while the Dodgers have one of the best catchers in the majors in Will Smith, the trade would severely hamper LA’s backstop depth with two going to the Angels in the prospective deal.

Ultimately, this trade is much too steep for a player set to become a free agent after this season. That’d be quite an untenable risk to take, even for a player of Ohtani’s incredible caliber.

The smarter play in my opinion is to hold off on trying to add him to the fold this year, and instead try to sign him in free agency. The Dodgers have enough money to ink Ohtani to what’s expected to be the richest contract in major US professional sports history, and they could do that without sending most of their farm system away.

Photo Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports