Teams With the Best Odds With Shohei Ohtani Past the 2023 MLB Trade Deadline

Although the Angels are open to the idea of trading Ohtani to another team, there is a high likelihood that he is still on the roster past the 2023 MLB Trade Deadline. Ohtani has been brought up in trade rumors in the past few seasons.

The Angels might not agree to the right package with another team. They might cancel the trade talk altogether because if they ship out Ohtani for young prospects, they are openly admitting they are throwing their postseason contention this season.

When the Angels entered the 2023 MLB All-Star Break, they had an overall record of 45-46. It also didn’t help that the Angels were playing in a loaded AL West Division. They have, however, had a strong start to the second half of the season as they have won six of their first nine games. They have five of their last six games, which includes a three-game sweep at home over the New York Yankees.

There is a strong possibility that the Angels take one more swing at Ohtani and keep him after the Trade Deadline. The Los Angeles Angels (51-49) are 4.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the final AL Wild Card spot.

Getting a postseason berth for the first time since 2012 could be the push to make Ohtani stay in Anaheim. The Angels have been infamous for wasting the careers of Albert Pujols and Mike Trout, it would be a shame for Ohtani’s legendary trajectory to be wasted with the Angels if the team is going to fall short of making the postseason for a while again.

Los Angeles Dodgers (+850)

The Los Angeles Dodgers (57-42) haven’t been shy about trading or acquiring key All-Star talent through free agency. Adding Ohtani would create a ridiculously loaded, but incredibly talented roster.

Ohtani would be on a Dodgers' roster that possesses five All-Stars, including outfielder Mookie Betts, first baseman Freddie Freeman, catcher Will Smith, pitcher Clayton Kershaw, and designated hitter J.D. Martinez.

The key for the Dodgers is not finding a for the star batter/pitcher, it is more about finding the money to pay him for a potential contract extension. The Dodgers are fifth in the league in highest total payroll at $228,029,845, just ahead of the Angels.

The Dodgers currently have a four-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West Division as they also possess the second-best record in the NL. Ohtani would easily come in and match the production of the Dodgers, who ranked second in the MLB, as of Monday night, in total runs accounted for (541). 

It will be in the pitching game that Ohtani becomes the face of the franchise for years to come. Clayton Kershaw is still pitching at a high level, but he is currently 35 years old. Ohtani joining the Dodgers’ bullpen would make the team one of the most well-balanced and talented teams in the MLB.

San Francisco Giants (+950)

One team that is prime and fit to take on a legendary two-way player like Ohtani are the San Francisco Giants. The Giants are a team that has a recent postseason season, remains a big market, has All-Star players but has room for improvement, and a solid payroll to give Ohtani an extensive contract at the end of the season.

The Giants are a team that had significant struggles through the first half of the 2023 MLB Season. They were a team that could find a balance of efficient pitching and batting, which caused them to be stagnant at around .500% through most of the season.

That changed in June as they established a balance on both sides of the field. The Giants entered the 2023 MLB All-Star Break with an overall record of 49-41 and started the second half of the season with a six-game win streak. After losing six consecutive games, the Giants are still in a solid position to take one of the NL Wild Card spots.

Adding a dynamic and efficient playmaker like Ohtani could make San Francisco an immediate World Series contender. Ohtani would instantly become the face of the franchise if the Giants traded for him.

Baltimore Orioles (+1000)

The Baltimore Orioles have taken some of their biggest steps in the process of becoming a playoff contender than in the past few seasons. The Orioles haven't made it to the AL Playoffs since 2016. This season is the best chance yet for them to make it to the postseason and win the AL East Division for the second time in 26 seasons.

They are accomplishing thanks to their tremendous young talent at the plate. Baltimore ranks in the top five in the AL in runs accounted for and slugging percentage. The Orioles are also a team that slows down some of the best batting teams in the league, especially in a dangerous AL East Division.

Just shortly after the start of the second half of the 2023 MLB Season, the Orioles have overtaken the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East Division and the AL. They are only two games behind the Atlanta Braves in terms of possessing the best overall record in the league.

The Orioles can take one step further in their development by trading for Ohtani and become even bigger competitors for a World Series title before the trade deadline. Ohtani can be the final this season to help give the Orioles their fourth World Series title in franchise history.