With the Yankees fighting to hold their season together in a competitive AL East without star outfielder Aaron Judge, who has been out since early June with a torn ligament in his toe, it may take a drastic move to keep New York afloat in the playoff hunt.
Enter Shohei Ohtani, possibly.
The do-everything star of the Angels in Ohtani is set to hit free agency this winter, and Los Angeles could decide to deal him in an effort at least get something in return. Specifically, the franchise could opt to make this move if it believes Ohtani is likely to walk at the end of the season.
As the Angels hover around .500 and fall further and further from playoff contention, the team may be more motivated than ever to deal away the generational Ohtani. After all, it would be the last chance to do so before receiving nothing in return should he leave in free agency.
With that in mind, ESPN’s Buster Olney suggested on ESPN's Get Up! that the Yankees are the most motivated team to make a move for Ohtani at the deadline later this month.
“Well, you start with the Yankees,” Olney said. “The Yankees, the Rangers and the Rays. Maybe a small handful of teams, but there’s no doubt when talking with sources yesterday, they see the Yankees as potentially being the most motivated because Gerrit Cole, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton…there are middle-aged players right in the prime of their careers."
"This is the Yankees’ window to win now. You bring in Ohtani and, suddenly, the Yankees’ rotation with him involved looks so strong. Ohtani hitting in Yankee Stadium, which favors left-handed sluggers. That’s something I’m sure the Yankees would be willing to pay for if Ohtani is made available by the Angels," Olney explained.
.@Buster_ESPN says the Yankees are potentially "the most motivated" to go after Shohei Ohtani if he's made available by the Angels 👀 pic.twitter.com/epel8QBhkg
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 13, 2023
There is no doubt that Ohtani would be a boon to both the Yankees’ lineup and pitching rotation, as he is one of the best hitters in baseball, as well as a frontline starter on the mound.
This season, Ohtani is hitting .302 with 32 home runs and 71 RBI with 11 stolen bases. On the mound, he is 7-4 on the year with a 3.32 ERA and over 100 and one-third innings pitched.
Ohtani could fetch a record-breaking contract this winter, but if the Yankees believe they can foot the bill, which they historically have had no problem doing, a trade to bring him to New York ahead of free agency could make a lot of sense.
