Why Shohei Ohtani might hold Dodgers back from best possible move at deadline

The Dodgers have been linked to a major MLB trade deadline move for Justin Verlander but looking ahead to Shohei Ohtani’s free agency could stay their hand.

Dodgers fans, Jim Bowden of The Athletic has good news and bad news for you as the MLB trade deadline looms. Though it really depends which way you look at each of the nuggets he dropped to determine which is the good and the bad.

It’s been made pretty clear that the Dodgers are one of the most likely suitors of Mets ace Justin Verlander, should the Mets decide to further cash in on their pitching staff.

Bowden went as far to call it “Dodgers or bust” for a Verlander trade.

For Dodgers fans hoping to see their team make a move at the deadline to bolster a World Series run this year, that’s the good news.

The bad news is that Bowden doesn’t think Verlander gets traded at all, not with Shohei Ohtani free agency looming.

Shohei Ohtani pursuit makes Justin Verlander unlikely for Dodgers

“It doesn’t seem to me they would take on Verlander’s contract unless the Mets did what they did with Scherzer and pay most of it down because I think this offseason they do want to make a run for Shohei Ohtani,” Bowden said on The Athletic Baseball Show.

“And I’m not sure if you’re agreeing to pay $43 million for Verlander that you’re gonna turn around and pay $55 or $60 [million] a year for Shohei Ohtani.

“So, my conclusion is, it’s highly unlikely. I do think if he gets traded, it’s the Dodgers or bust, but I don’t think he goes anywhere.”

Of course, if you’re a Dodgers fan who wants to see the Boys in Blue put all their eggs in the Ohtani basket, passing on Verlander is the good news. There will be no need to worry over financials for next year if the 40-year-old pitcher is in the picture.