Shohei Ohtani trade rumors: 5 teams with the best 2 top 100 prospects to offer

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The Los Angeles Angels just lost two of three coming out of the all-star break to the Houston Astros to fall to 46-48 on the season. They're not quite out of the playoff race just yet, but they're awfully close.

With the Angels showing no real signs of getting back into the race, Shohei Ohtani getting traded is becoming more possible the closer we get to the deadline. The Angels have even thought about trades and according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, they have somewhat of an asking price.

The Angels are now in a listening mode with Shohei Ohtani trade inquiries, sources say, as I reported in this @MLBNetwork segment. Suitors must be prepared to offer multiple top-100 type prospects to begin the conversation. @MLBPipeline @MLB pic.twitter.com/WEea8ReOlt
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 15, 2023

For the Angels to part with the best player in the game, they'll have to be blown away by an offer. That means the team that gets him would have to part with at least two of the top 100 prospects in baseball. While a bunch of teams around the league can meet that price, narrowing things down to the best packages is what Perry Minasian should do.

Not everyone will be in on Ohtani. A team like the Nationals who have prized prospect James Wood won't be interested in a rental like Ohtani when they're 19 games under .500. Other teams that are in play for postseason spots however, could be interested in going all in and trying to win in 2023. It's important to note that prospects who have graduated the prospect rankings like Anthony Volpe and Elly De La Cruz are not included in this.

5) Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays have been the class of baseball for most of the 2023 season, but recent struggles have them just one game ahead of the Orioles for first place in the AL East.

While the Rays almost certainly won't be in the running to sign Ohtani this offseason, acquiring him now would make them the undisputed favorites to win it all in 2023. The Rays continue to make the postseason virtually every year but have yet to get over the hump. With a loaded farm system and the potential desperation to finally win it all, the Rays could be a team to watch in the Ohtani sweepstakes.

In terms of prospects they have, Junior Caminero is their best guy. Caminero is ranked 14th on MLB.com's top 100 list, as he's shot up the rankings this season. He's been primarily used as a third baseman, and if the Angels were to acquire him that'd be his likely spot with Zach Neto manning shortstop.

The Rays have three other top-40 prospects the Angels can look to acquire alongside Caminero. Carson Williams is another infielder who plays on the left side and he's ranked 23rd. Curtis Mead plays third base and second base and is ranked 32nd, while Kyle Manzardo, a power-hitting first baseman is ranked 38th.

I would be suprised if the Rays dealt prospects of this magnitude to acquire Ohtani, but if they're open for business, a package involving two of these guys would be a great return.

4) San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants have been one of baseball's biggest surprises, bolstering a record of 52-41 on the season, second in the NL West only behind the Dodgers.

The Giants are a team with a legitimate shot at landing Ohtani this offseason, as they've got the money and location Ohtani seems to desire. Acquiring him now not only allows them to try and win it all in 2023, but they have the ability to negotiate with him and maybe figure out a way to ink an unlikely extension before he hits the open market. Even if they fail to do that, if he enjoys his time there they'll have a leg up regardless.

The Giants went aggressively after both Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa and opened this season with neither player. Their fanbase is hungry and their front office is hungry for a superstar. There is no bigger superstar than Ohtani.

In a trade with the Angels, the Giants have two top-15 prospects to dangle. Pitcher Kyle Harrison is the most intriguing, as the Angels are a team without high-end pitching prospects. Harrison is ranked 11th on MLB Pipeline's top 100 list, and infielder Marco Luciano is ranked 15th. Luciano has played only shortstop in the minors but he can move to either second base or third base if the Angels were to acquire him.

3) Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers just swept the Reds coming out of the all-star break right after taking two of three from Cincinnati before the break. Taking five of six from their rivals has them sitting in first place in the NL Central, two games ahead of the Reds. Milwaukee is ten games over .500 and acquiring Ohtani can legitimately make them one of the best teams in the National League.

The Brewers are where they are because of their pitching. Adding Ohtani to a rotation that's headlined by Corbin Burnes would give them the best duo in baseball. Adding in guys like Brandon Woodruff (when healthy) and Freddy Peralta, the Brewers likely have the best postseason rotation in baseball.

Their issue is their offense as they're 24th in runs scored. Adding Ohtani to their weak lineup should help immensely. Especially in a park as hitter-friendly as American Family Field.

In a trade with the Angels, the Brewers best prospect is ranked second overall in Jackson Chourio. Milwaukee also has 17th-ranked prospect Sal Frelick. The downside to this is both of these guys are outfielders and the Angels do have plenty of outfielders, but an Ohtani trade should be about adding talent more than worrying about fit. Additional moves can be made that address fit.

2) Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks are another surprise team in baseball this season. They're currently 52-42 on the season and have fallen to third in the NL West thanks to a 2-8 record in their last ten games. Arizona would be looking to acquire Ohtani to get back into the race and try and win it all this season.

Adding Ohtani to a rotation that already includes Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly would be unreal. Adding him to a lineup with the likes of Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte, and Christian Walker would be great for them as well. Fortunately for the Angels, they've got the prospects as well.

Jordan Lawlar is Arizona's top prospect. He's a shortstop so presumably Lawlar or Neto would be moving to second or third if a deal would transpire. He's ranked 5th on the top-100 list.

Arizona can also add number 13 prospect Druw Jones, son of Andruw, to the deal. Jones is a ways away, but he was taken second overall last season and can anchor the Angels outfield for years to come whenever he's promoted.

If the Angels don't want another outfielder or don't want to wait too long for a prospect to be ready, Brandon Pfaadt is another elite prospect they could realistically try to add. Pfaadt is a pitcher which the Angels do desperately need, and he's already pitched in the majors this season (albeit not very well). He's ranked number 21 overall.

1) Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles have perhaps been the surprise of all surprises in baseball this season. They're 57-35 on the season, just one game back of the Rays for first place in the loaded AL East. They just keep improving, and an Ohtani trade might put them over the top.

Ohtani would immediately be the Orioles ace, as their starting pitching is the weak part of their team. Adding Ohtani to a lineup with Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson among other young rising stars would be electric.

In addition to their outstanding team right now, the Orioles have the best farm system in baseball, led by the best prospect in baseball, Jackson Holliday. The Orioles will likely never even consider trading Holliday for Ohtani as a rental considering there's almost no shot Ohtani stays there long term, but he's obviously the number one guy the Angels should be targeting. Holliday can play third base and has the talent to be the best player in baseball one day.

The Orioles also have number 12 prospect Colton Cowser that they can include in a deal. Baltimore, like the Angels, have a loaded outfield so they could stomach losing Cowser. Even guys like number 30 prospect Jordan Westburg and number 36 prospect Heston Kjerstad would be very interesting prospects for Perry Minasian to consider.

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