MLB trade deadline: The best asset every team can trade for Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani likely won’t be traded by the Angels at the MLB trade deadline. But if he were, what’s the best asset every team could send to Los Angeles?

The odds Shohei Ohtani is dealt prior to late July rely heavily on the Angels performance. LAA ended the first half losing nine of ten games, and sit a game under .500. They are seven games back of the AL West-leading Texas Rangers, and five games back of the last AL Wild Card spot. Should they find themselves even further back by the trade deadline, expect teams to call about Ohtani’s services.

That got us thinking, though — what can teams even offer for Ohtani in the first place? From the Angels perspective, there is little chance they will receive equal value. Ohtani is a two-way superstar and this generation’s Babe Ruth. Still, some prospect capital could help matters.

Best trade asset every AL West team can offer for Shohei Ohtani

We should start with the obvious: if the Angels to trade Ohtani, it won’t be within their own division. But, the Astros, Rangers and Mariners are all contending teams. The A’s, meanwhile, are in this merely for some laughs.

Oakland Athletics best trade asset: Tyler Soderstrom

Soderstrom is Oakland’s top-ranked prospect and, frankly, is just about the only player that would interest the Halos. Soderstrom is the 34th-ranked prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline, and has a hit grade of 55 and power grade of 60. He can play both catcher and first base, and playing behind the plate would make him all the more valuable.

Seattle Mariners best trade asset: George Kirby

No, the Mariners are not trading Julio Rodriguez for Ohtani, but George Kirby, fresh off his first All-Star appearance, has the stuff and makeup of a future ace. Assuming they acquired Ohtani, Seattle would have Shohei, Luis Castillo and Logan Gilbert atop their rotation. That makes a player like Kirby, while an excellent resource with his impressive velocity, expendable.

Houston Astros best trade asset: Cristian Javier

Houston can’t offer much by way of minor-league prospects outside of Drew Gilbert, but Javier, who is in the middle of a down season by his standards, could reinvent himself with the Angels. LAA lacks rotational depth, and Javier has the makings of an ace when healthy. He’s only 26 years old, and can help the Halos win with a roster centered around Mike Trout and more, rather than Ohtani.

Texas Rangers best trade asset: Evan Carter

The Rangers lead the AL West and could be set up for years to come thanks to a strong farm system, all of which is buoyed by Evan Carter, the No. 7 prospect in all of baseball. A trade for Ohtani would have to include Carter, theoretically of course, and his hit grade of 60. Carter is an outfielder and was the Rangers 2022 minor-league player of the year.