As Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani is set to become a free agent after the 2023 season, ESPN’s Jeff Passan named several teams that could be of interest for the electrifying two-way star.
In an appearance on ESPN’S Get Up, Passan stated that if the Angels do not remain in contention to land a playoff spot this season, teams like the Dodgers, Mets, Giants, Yankees and Mariners will all be all in on the Ohtani sweepstakes.
“If the Angels fall out of contention … and it’s more of the same that has been over the last five years he’s been there, he [Shohei Ohtani] could be traded and he will definitely leave,” Passan said. “Seeing him do everything he’s being doing for the last three years when he has been the best player on the planet shows you why the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Mets are going to be the two teams that are butting heads with the Giants, the Yankees, the Mariners and perhaps others on the periphery to pay the guy $500 million-plus.
“That’s where the bidding is going to start and it’s only going to get higher than that.”
"If the Angels fall out of contention ... [Shohei Ohtani] could be traded and he will definitely leave."
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 20, 2023
—@JeffPassan pic.twitter.com/evk3nuye1o
The Angels (9–9) are currently second in the American League West, three games behind the first-place Rangers (12–6) and are coming off a 3–2 loss in extra innings to the Yankees on Wednesday.
If Los Angeles remains close to the top of its division, the Angels will have a chance at the postseason. And, according to Passan, this should keep Ohtani in an Angels uniform this year.
In 17 games, Ohtani has recorded 18 hits, four homers, 11 RBI and 12 runs scored with a slash line of .281/.370/.500. As a pitcher, the 28-year-old is 2–0 with a 0.86 ERA while allowing only six hits, two runs and zero home runs.
