Shohei Ohtani Trade Rumors: Low-Revenue Teams Could Eye Angels Star If Made Available

If the Los Angeles Angels decide to move superstar pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani before the Aug. 1 trade deadline, his list of suitors reportedly could include teams that wouldn't generally pursue such a high-end player.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, "even low-revenue teams" figure to be in the market for Ohtani if he is placed on the block since he would only be owed $10 million from Aug. 1 until the end of the season.

Ohtani, who is the strong front-runner to win his second American League MVP award in the past three seasons, is in line to become a free agent during the offseason.

The 29-year-old Ohtani is in the midst of his sixth MLB season, and it could turn out to be his best to date.

His slash line of .302/.387/.663 would all be career highs if the season ended today. Ohtani also leads Major League Baseball with 32 home runs, plus he has registered 71 RBI, 63 runs scored and 11 stolen bases.

Ohtani has pitched like an ace as well, going 7-4 in 17 starts with a 3.32 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 132 strikeouts over 100.1 innings.

The Japanese megastar would likely be staring down a third consecutive MVP award if not for New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge's historic 2022 season, which saw him set a new AL record with 62 home runs.

Ohtani hit .257 with a career-high 46 homers and 100 RBI during his MVP season of 2021 and followed it up last season with a .273 batting average, 34 home runs and 95 RBI.

He also had his best pitching campaign last season, going 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA and 219 strikeouts one year after going 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA and 156 K's.

Few players in the history of Major League Baseball have proved capable of impacting the game in as many ways as Ohtani, especially over the past century.

As great as Ohtani has been, however, the Angels have yet to reach the playoffs during his time with the organization, and their lack of success could ultimately contribute to his eventual departure.

Watching the Angels trade Ohtani would likely be heartbreaking for a fanbase that has embraced him as the face of the franchise, but losing him for nothing would be far worse.

A player of Ohtani's caliber would net a massive return on the trade market even as a rental. and if the Angels don't have a realistic shot at the playoffs by Aug. 1, it is an avenue that has to be explored.

ESPN's Buster Olney said Thursday that the Yankees may be the most likely team to pursue a trade for Ohtani if he is made available at the deadline.

Other big-market teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets and Boston Red Sox make sense as possible landing spots as well, but Rosenthal's report suggests small-market teams that have performed above expectations such as the Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins and Cincinnati Reds could put themselves in the mix as well.