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5 teams that could ruin Arte Moreno’s dream of keeping Shohei Ohtani

By Zachary Rotman

Dec 9, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels player Shohei Ohtani (17) is introduced as the newest member of the Angels organization by owner Arte Moreno at Anaheim Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 9, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels player Shohei Ohtani (17) is introduced as the newest member of the Angels organization by owner Arte Moreno at Anaheim Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 3, 2022; Oakland, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) prepares to bat against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /

3. St. Louis Cardinals

A Shohei Ohtani trade feels unlikely for multiple reasons. The Angels want to retain him, and if they trade him midseason their chances of doing so would go from slim to none. Ohtani has very little incentive to remain an Angel past this season and them sending him elsewhere would likely be the final nail in that coffin.

Another reason a trade is unlikely is because of how much you’d have to give up knowing that there’s a chance you can lose him at any moment. The Cardinals are a team loaded with prospects and a promising MLB team but lack the talent to truly compete with teams like the Mets, Braves, Padres, and Dodgers in the National League.

The Cardinals have a weakness in their DH spot with Juan Yepez expected to shoulder much of that load. They also have a pretty below-average starting rotation with 41-year-old Adam Wainwright leading the way followed by the likes of Jordan Montgomery and Miles Mikolas.

An Ohtani acquisition would put the Cardinals into World Series contention. An extension would be hard to envision, but stranger things have happened.

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