Former GM addresses if Angels could trade Shohei Ohtani

Former MLB general manager Jim Bowden has addressed if he believes the Los Angeles Angels could trade two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani before Ohtani reaches free agency after the season. 

"A lot of baseball people believe if the Angels are out of it at the trade deadline, they will trade Shohei Ohtani for the best package they can get and then try to re-sign him in free agency," Bowden explained for The Athletic. "I think that premise makes sense and is accurate. However, I also think the (American League West) will be up for grabs, without any team running away with the division...And I think the AL West will have legit wild-card contenders. I find it hard to believe the Angels won’t at least be within striking distance on Aug. 1, so I say (Ohtani will) finish the regular season alongside Mike Trout and company." 

Agent Nez Balelo hinted back in February that Ohtani will test free agency following the campaign, and it's since been said that the 2021 AL Most Valuable Player could earn more than $600M total from his next contract. Multiple reporters suggested last week that the New York Yankees could look to land Ohtani before the summer trade deadline, both in an attempt to win the World Series this fall and to have a few extra months to negotiate with the 28-year-old. 

However, at least "one Angels person" quickly and strongly refuted a report from ESPN's Jeff Passan last week that said the club could shop Ohtani if it is essentially out of playoff contention in the final weeks of July. The Angels began Thursday at 13-12 on the young season, while the first-place Texas Rangers were 14-10. 

Even if Ohtani is more open to playing in an East Coast market now than he was five years ago, it appears he remains on track to only speak with big-spending clubs such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets this coming fall.