MLB Rumors: Shohei Ohtani could lead to Dodgers’ shocking trade approach

The Los Angeles Dodgers are usually an aggressive team at the MLB trade deadline. Will they do so, especially to get Shohei Ohtani?

The MLB world will have its focus set in Anaheim, Calif. for the coming days, as the Aug. 1 trade deadline is only a matter of days away. The Los Angeles Angels have an important decision to make beforehand — do they keep Shohei Ohtani and risk losing him in free agency this winter for nothing, or do they trade him to get as big of a return as possible. The team is reportedly listening to calls from teams about Ohtan ahead of the deadline.

Speaking of the deadline, the Los Angeles Dodgers are known to make a huge splash or two to add players to help them in their pursuit of winning another Commissioner’s Trophy. But, they are rumored to be taking a shocking approach, and it’s related to Ohtani.

In his latest column, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale writes that he believes that the Dodgers are going to be “more passive than envisioned” at the deadline. The reasoning behind it? The Dodgers are saving their resources to get Ohtani this winter.

Dodgers to take ‘passive approach’ at trade deadline to prepare for offseason pursuit of Shohei Ohtani

"“Yet, they entered this season almost satisfied with just a return to the postseason, spending precious little in the free-agent market by not giving anyone a multi-year deal, and saving all of their resources for the great white whale, Ohtani,” writes Nightengale.“…Sure, they will come away with a veteran starter, and some bullpen help too, but they’re gearing up for Ohtani to be an integral part of 2024 and the rest of the decade, while still hanging onto their top prospects.”"

The Dodgers didn’t have their notable big spending spree in the offseason this past winter as compared to previous years. They went for savvy moves on short-term deals, trusting in the roster that they have now. But as Nightengale notes, they are going to try and get Ohtani to leave the Angels and join them in Hollywood.

If there were any team to acquire Ohtani, it’s the Dodgers. Their farm system is stacked with highly-regarded prospects. Eight of them are ranked inside MLB’s Top 100 prospects.

Nightengale did touch on the chances of Ohtani getting traded by the Angels, expressing his belief that he doesn’t see it happening.

The Dodgers are in the midst of a tough battle for the NL West crown, maintaining narrow leads over the San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks for first place. For those expecting that the Dodgers will trade away some of their top prospects to help them for the remainder of the season, Nightengale doesn’t see that happening. He does see, however, the Dodgers going all out to sign Ohtani this upcoming winter.