MLB Rumors: Ohtani-Mets trade grade, Bieber surprise team, who will Cubs buy?

MLB Rumors: Grading a NY Mets-Shohei Ohtani trade

Shohei Ohtani will likely not be traded at the deadline, barring the Angels fall from grace as an American League contender. Los Angeles has done enough to warrant buying at the deadline, for now, in hopes of impressing Ohtani enough to give them a fighting chance in free agency. For now, the Dodgers are the heavy favorites for his services this winter.

Were, say, the New York Mets to make an offer for Shohei at the deadline, what would that trade even look like? MLB Network’s Bo Porter estimated the cost, and it’s a ton for Steve Cohen and Co.

This would be an all-out sell for Los Angeles. Ohtani and Rendon, who could start at third base for the Mets considering Baty would be part of the return, are bonafide stars when healthy. Rendon’s health has been a major question mark, and his contract doesn’t equal his productivity at this time.

From New York’s perspective, this is a TON to give up for only half a season of Ohtani. They would need to feel very, very confident in their ability to re-sign him at the end of the year to trade this much. Parada and Mauricio are top-100 prospects in all of baseball. While both are somewhat blocked given Francisco Alvarez and Francisco Lindor currently man those positions for the big-league team, a position switch isn’t out of the question.

There’s little reason for New York to go all-in on Ohtani now, especially because the team as currently constructed is on pace for nearly 90 losses. Were they contending, then acquiring a player the caliber of Ohtani makes sense, because it would at least give the Mets a chance at a World Series run.

Consider this trade package fiction, rather than fact.