Trade Deadline: The Sho Goes On?

07/25/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

MLB Trade Deadline Buyers, Sellers, And Potential Targets… Will the Angels Really Deal Shohei Ohtani?

The MLB season is past the 100-game mark, and the trade deadline is now one week away. It’s crunch time for team management with one last play toward roster improvements. Buyers and sellers are somewhat distinct, but a few teams are in limbo. Five clubs sit around .500 and could go either way, and those franchises hold a lot of weight in star players at the trade deadline. One player, in particular, is the talk of the coming week — Shohei Ohtani. So who are the five teams teetering between buyers and sellers? And why would the Angels trade the best player in baseball? Let’s examine.

5 Clubs in Limbo (Buy or Sell?)

One could argue there should be more or less on this list, but we have five teams in the spotlight this coming week. The division leaders will be buyers as they aim for the World Series. Those with lost seasons will be sellers of expiring talent. But these five teams could go either way.

Angels (51-49) — 4 Games Back of the AL Wild Card

Guardians (49-51) — 5.5 Games Back of the AL Wild Card

Cubs (48-51) — 5.5 Games Back of the NL Wild Card

Padres (48-53) — 6 Games Back of the NL Wild Card

Mets (46-53) — 7.5 Games Back of the NL Wild Card

Why Would the Angels Trade Ohtani?

Despite being a generational two-way star and the current home run leader, Ohtani is already 29 years old. It’s his fifth year in the majors, and that late start at the age of 24 means his career clock is already ticking. At 29, he’s absolutely in his prime, but the Angels have botched the duo of Ohtani and Mike Trout, failing to capitalize on their star power in the past three years of Ohtani’s rise. Trout signed a 12-year, $426.5 million contract in 2019. He’s a Halo for the long run. But Ohtani’s contract expires at the end of this season. If the Angels don’t trade him, he’ll have options this winter. It will either cost the Angels another mega contract to keep him or let him hit free agency for nothing in return. Getting something back might be the play.

High-Profile Trade Candidates

Pitchers

RHP Lucas Giolito (White Sox)

RHP Max Scherzer (Mets)

RHP Marcus Stroman (Cubs)

LHP Blake Snell (Padres)

LHP Josh Hader (Padres)

RHP Kyle Hendricks (Cubs)

RHP Scott Barlow (Royals)

LHP Jordan Montgomery (Cardinals)

RHP Michael Lorenzen (Tigers)

RHP Aaron Civale (Guardians)

RHP Lance Lynn (White Sox)

RHP David Robertson (Mets)

Field

SS Paul DeJong (Cardinals)

OF Cody Bellinger (Cubs)

C Elias Diaz (Rockies)

OF Randal Grichuk (Rockies)

3B Jeimer Candelario (Nationals)

OF Tommy Pham (Mets)

OF Mark Canha (Mets)

OF Teoscar Hernandez (Mariners)

C Yan Gomes (Cubs)

*Players listed are a collection of rumors, expert opinions, and teams that are likely sellers.

MLB Trade Deadline: Tuesday, Aug. 1

B/R: Shohei Ohtani Trade Rumors: Orioles & Diamondbacks Asking About Angels Star

MLB Quick-Hitters

Central Fireworks: The Reds and Brewers are clashing this week with the NL Central lead on the line. In last night’s matchup, Reds’ rookie Elly De La Cruz hit a towering 456-foot home run, but Christian Yelich slapped a walk-off RBI for a 3-2 Crew win. Milwaukee leads Cincy by just one game in the divisional race.

Texas-Sized Walk-Off: The Astros and Rangers had a slugfest at Minute Maid Park that saw 19 combined runs before the Stros won a nail-biter. Tied 9-9 in the bottom of the 9th, Yainer Diaz hit an RBI single that brought Kyle Tucker home from second in a play at the plate for the Astros’ win (10-9).

O’s Keep Winning: The Orioles and Phillies started this week’s East Coast series on Monday night with a wild finish. Baltimore’s Colton Cowser hit a go-ahead RBI double in the top of the 9th (3-2) before Cionel Perez completed the save. The O’s are back atop the AL with 62 wins.