Blue Jays: A Hypothetical Trade Package for Shohei Ohtani

Oct 5, 2022; Oakland, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) delivers a pitch against the Oakland Athletics during the second inning at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 5, 2022; Oakland, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) delivers a pitch against the Oakland Athletics during the second inning at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 29, 2022; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) is greeted after scoring a run in the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 29, 2022; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) is greeted after scoring a run in the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

The state of the Angels is concerning. Spotrac has their payroll sitting at 10th on the leaderboard amongst MLB teams, the third highest amongst teams that missed the playoffs and the highest amongst teams who haven’t made the playoffs since 2014 by far. Outside of the money, the lack of depth on the Angels remains as big of a concern as ever. The top of a healthy Angels lineup as of today is as potent as any.

RF- Taylor Ward
CF- Mike Trout
DH- Shohei Ohtani
3B- Anthony Rendon
1B- Jared Walsh

The drop-off after Walsh is steeper than any mountain/hill imaginable. Outside of Luis Rengifo, who should enter 2023 without guaranteed playing time, the highest OPS+ from the rest of the available players this past season was 79 from outfielder Jo Adell. The Angels are top-heavy even when fully healthy, and the biggest issue is depth. Trading one of their stars could go a long way toward providing more competent offensive players to boost this mediocre group of position players.

The Angels have the makeup of a competitive team, and doing a complete rebuild in the middle of Mike Trout’s prime is nothing short of terrifying for both Angels fans and MLB. The Angels are in need of more of a re-tool, and free agent to be in Shohei Ohtani should be the centrepiece of a single deal that would supplement the offence of this Angels team.

Without reinforcements, the Angels stand no chance in a tough AL West. Additions could be made at catcher, infield, and with the pitching staff. A team consisting of Trout, Ward, a healthy Rendon, Sandoval, and two or three more above-average players, is a dangerous one. If the Angels agree to part with Ohtani in exchange for a package of impact players, what could that look like from the Blue Jays?