The Boston Red Sox could be very busy in the trade market in the upcoming months.
The 2023 MLB campaign is just underway but that doesn’t mean that rumors aren’t swirling left and right. Boston has played just 19 games and is 9-10 on the young seasons so far. The offense has been solid so far, but the pitching hasn’t performed at the same level.
One big swing that could help change that for the Red Sox would be acquiring a star like Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar and early Cy Young Award candidate Shohei Ohtani. The 28-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2023 season and if the club isn’t able to compete for a postseason spot this year, it sounds like Los Angeles may end up trading Ohtani ahead of the trade deadline, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
“There’s one number that we need to be looking at when it comes to Shohei Ohtani’s future, and that is the Los Angeles Angels’ record,” Passan said Thursday morning on ESPN’s “Get Up.” “Because as long as the Angels are in contention, as long as the Angels have hope for a playoff spot, Shohei Ohtani’s probably not going to be traded at the deadline this year. But if the Angels fall out of contention, and if it’s just more of the same as it’s been over the last five years that he’s been there, he could be traded, and he will definitely leave.”
If Ohtani is dealt this season, it’s extremely that the majority of big-league clubs will have some interest. The market will be extremely competitive, but Ohtani is the perfect player to trade the farm system for. If Los Angeles deals Ohtani, the haul will be historic, but with his impending free agency, there’s no way to project exactly what a deal could look like.
Boston’s farm system has been greatly improved over the last few years and the two-way superstar already has spoken in great length about his love for Fenway Park. That may not be enough to convince the front office to deal the farm system because Ohtani likely will receive a contract north of $500 million this upcoming offseason. But, if Ohtani actually becomes available, Boston certainly should at least give the Angels a call. There has never been a player like Ohtani and may never be again. A deal may cost a lot, but he immediately gives a club a better chance at winning a World Series and also would fill holes on the Red Sox roster.
There’s no way to be sure what will happen, but Ohtani and specifically the Angels’ record should be monitored moving forward.
