Opinion: Where Ohtani Could End Up After The Trade Deadline

By Lily Belcher

All eyes are on Shohei Ohtani for what would be the biggest trade of the year. That is, if the Angels do deal him ahead of the August 1 trade deadline.

Ohtani has just three months left on his 1 year/$30 million contract with the fourth-place Angels before he hits the free agent market. The modern-day Babe Ruth is expected to sign a major contract that could award him over $600 million dollars this off-season. It seems unlikely that the two-way phenomenon will sign with the Angels again, probably hoping to avoid making the same mistake as teammate Mike Trout, who signed a long-term deal with a losing team. However, almost all of the 29 other teams seem to be interested in talking with Shotime.

The Angels will lose control of Ohtani at the end of the season, but trading him now gives Los Angeles the opportunity to pick up a player or two from another team. It’s a good idea on the Angels' side. They probably won’t make the playoffs (again) and are looking to sell. Exchanging their superstar for a few other lower-tier players might be the best option. And, if they sell him now, they can at least get a hitter, or a pitcher, or a good defender, given that they seem to be lacking in all areas.

By trading Ohtani, the only thing the Angels will miss out on is the preliminary free agency discussion, since other teams cannot talk to Ohtani about his 2024 contract until he is officially released at the end of the season. This isn’t that big of a loss for the Halos because Ohtani won’t (or at least shouldn’t) resign with the team.

So, who should he sign with? An argument can be, and has been, made for any of the other 29 teams. But, Ohtani should sign with a team that will at least make a respectable push for the playoffs next year. The Japanese native is also rumored to prefer to stay on the West Coast, due to his more private lifestyle and the slightly easier trip back to his hometown.

Obviously, Diamondbacks’ and Dodgers’ fans think Shotime would fill the gaps in their rosters. The Diamondbacks might be an interesting option, but one star player doesn’t seem to be the answer in Arizona. According to PHNX D-Backs Podcast, Arizona needs a starting pitcher and could use a power hitter, but admitted that Ohtani is not a reasonable choice because of the price the Angels will ask for him. The Dodgers have the money and the players for the trade, but the celebrity-level attention the roster gets wouldn’t fit Ohtani’s private lifestyle.

The team that makes the best case for Ohtani is the Seattle Mariners. The Emerald City showed Ohtani plenty of love during his visit for the All-Star Game, even petitioning him to join the Mariners during his at-bats, chanting “Come to Seattle.” Ohtani might have a mutual affection for the Mariners, specifically the legacy left by compatriot and future Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki. Ohtani, who grew up admiring the right fielder, reportedly went straight to where Suzuki’s locker used to be when he got to Seattle’s clubhouse for the All-Star break.

Maybe the legacy of Suzuki isn’t enough to sway Ohtani, but the Mariners have more to offer. It is a smaller media market on the West Coast. They have plenty of potential, snapping a 21-year playoff drought last season, staying above .500 and having an even better season than in 2022. They are in third-place in the AL West, but are pushing for at least a wildcard spot in October.

The Angels are in desperate need for an effective rebuild, so the Mariners’ farm system could offer some top prospects and/or a few hitters from their roster to the Angels for Ohtani.

While The Athletic writer Ken Rosenthal reported the Halos were intent on keeping their two-way star, a deal with the Mariners may be intriguing enough to change President John Carpino’s mind.