What do baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani and the Tampa Bay Rays have in common?
What You Need To Know
- Shohei Ohtani leads the Angels in batting average, home runs and RBIs. On the mound, he leads the team in wins, ERA and strikeouts
- He is a free agent after the 2023 season, leading to trade speculation ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline
- SEE ALSO: Rays swept by Rangers, no longer alone atop AL East
- SEE ALSO: Rays to celebrate Longoria, Iwamura moments with statues
On the surface, not much. The two-way, pitching and hitting star is playing for a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim team that is falling out of playoff contention. The Rays, meanwhile, continue to stay on top of the AL East, albeit now tied with the Baltimore Orioles after Wednesday's games.
But could Ohtani end up a Ray? A number of media outlets are listing the Rays as a possible suitor to the generational talent, if not for the long term, then at least for a World Series push this season.
Our partners at the Tampa Bay Times are one of those outlets. Their columnist, John Romano, writes: "Forget the $10 million or so he will cost in salary for the remainder of 2023, the greater cost is in the players it will take to acquire him at the deadline. He is the ultimate all-in bet for a single shot at the World Series."
He argues that after a number of postseason close calls, maybe it's time for the Rays to make the headline-grabbing deal and get Ohtani.
"The versatility and depth that allows them to thrive in the regular season is not as valued in the sprint of October. They’ve lacked superstars. Difference-makers," he wrote. "They’ve lacked players of Ohtani’s pedigree."
Meanwhile, over at Major League Baseball's official website, the Rays are named as the first of 10 teams that should roll the dice on Ohtani.
"If Ohtani’s main objective is to win, playing for the team leading the toughest division in baseball should sound desirable," writer Brian Murphy said. "The need is evident as the Rays have been leaking oil for a while and require reinforcements just about everywhere."
Indeed, the Rays' once-commanding lead in the AL East is down to zero after the Rays lost Wednesday to the Texas Rangers. Baltimore beat the Los Angeles Dodgers to catch Tampa Bay in the standings.
"Acquiring Ohtani -- and Tampa Bay has the prospects to make it happen -- would provide a huge jolt to a lineup that desperately needs one," Murphy said.
ESPN put together possible trade packages for Ohtani and, again, the Rays are on the list.
Pitching prospect Shane Baz is among the players in an "aggressive" package the team could put together, according to the article.
"Who knows, maybe Ohtani, who has taken to analytics since working out at Driveline three winters ago, falls in love with the infrastructure in Tampa, and the Rays, trying to finalize a new stadium in the area, do the impossible and sign him long term," said writer Alden Gonzalez.
Whatever happens, we'll know soon enough. The MLB trading deadline is Aug. 1.