As the Angels begin to tumble out of the American League playoff picture, Shohei Ohtani trade rumors have once again resurfaced. If Los Angeles is unable to make the postseason, yet again, with the two-way phenom, it stands to reason that the franchise is better off getting something in return him for the last half of the season, rather than risk him walking away with no return in free agency.
On Thursday, ESPN MLB insider Buster Olney argued that the Yankees are the team with the most motivation to make a huge splash and land Ohtani ahead of the trade deadline.
“Well, you start with the Yankees,” Olney said on Get Up. “The Yankees, the Rangers and the Rays. Maybe a small handful of teams, but there’s no doubt when talking with sources yesterday, they see the Yankees as potentially being the most motivated because Gerrit Cole, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton … there are middle-aged players right in the prime of their careers.”
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“This is the Yankees’ window to win now. You bring in Ohtani and, suddenly, the Yankees’ rotation with him involved looks so strong. Ohtani hitting in Yankee Stadium, which favors left-handed sluggers. That’s something I’m sure the Yankees would be willing to pay for if Ohtani is made available by the Angels,” Olney explained.
While they’re not exactly the free-spending Yankees of the 1990s and 2000s under George Steinbrenner, New York can never be dismissed when a player like Ohtani becomes available, especially when they’re in a championship window.
Fans of the Yankees have to be ecstatic about the idea of bringing in baseball’s best player for the stretch run, but the idea is something that virtually no one else with a rooting interest can enjoy, and that has borne out online after Olney’s report. Most seem skeptical that Hal Steinbrenner and general manager Brian Cashman would mortgage the team’s farm system for what could be a half-season rental with no guarantee of a World Series, considering the injury to Aaron Judge and other external factors.
— The Michael Kay Show (@TMKSESPN) July 13, 2023
The Yankees who were so reluctant to sign any free agents because they believed in their prospects? They're going to turn around and sell the farm? Mhmm okay sure. https://t.co/381FwhztcZ
— Kate Feldman (@kateefeldman) July 13, 2023
First of all, the Angels ain’t trading Ohtani. Second of all, it would be very funny if the Yankees decimated their farm system for three months of Ohtani just to lose him in free agency. pic.twitter.com/pMlgFTYLCD
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) July 13, 2023
In other news, Charlie Brown is potentially "the most motivated" to kick that football if it's held by Lucy https://t.co/eFCdcIq9KT
— Pinstripe Alley (@pinstripealley) July 13, 2023
I’m not sure I could put together a Yankee package that would approach the Angels should get. Are you trading Volpe? https://t.co/h9YSmwiiTB
— Ben K. (@bkabak) July 13, 2023
It was reported that the Yankees made a very strong offer to the Angels for Ohtani last deadline so don’t completely dismiss this. #RepBX https://t.co/H7npqHankn
— Adam Grassani (@AGrassani6) July 13, 2023
Cole
— Matt ⚾️ (@yankeesguy93) July 13, 2023
Ohtani
Rodon
Nestor
That’s a nasty playoff rotation. Schmidt can easily then be traded for a controllable LF’er https://t.co/uIz0WTnlPk
