With the Los Angeles Angels struggling and recently losing Mike Trout to injury, speculation about trading Shohei Ohtani has intensified. Former MLB star Alex Rodriguez proposed a radical solution on FS1: trading both Ohtani and Trout to build a championship-caliber team within five years.
Rodriguez envisions the Angels acquiring five or six top prospects in exchange for their superstars, then hiring a prominent baseball executive like Theo Epstein to lead the franchise's rebuild. However, his suggestion of stockpiling first-round draft picks overlooks the fact that teams cannot trade those picks.
Angels owner Artie Moreno has previously expressed a desire to keep Ohtani, who is set to become a free agent. But with the trade deadline approaching and the team's playoff hopes dwindling, the situation remains fluid.
Ohtani, speaking before the All-Star Game, reiterated his focus on the current season and winning games, while acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding his impending free agency.
Trading Trout would present a significant financial challenge for any potential suitor, given his substantial contract that runs through 2030, with an annual salary of $35.4 million.
The Angels face a critical decision: risk losing Ohtani for nothing in free agency or trade him now for valuable assets that could shape the team's future.
