Is a Shohei Ohtani Trade to the Toronto Blue Jays Possible?

For the full episode of Pitch Clock, check out the video below. Be sure to subscribe to Sports Interaction’s YouTube channel for plenty of content.

There is excitement in the air because it seems Los Angeles Angels’ superstar Shohei Ohtani could be traded by August 1. Nothing is certain, but the mere fact that it’s a possibility has people chatting.

Before we forget, check out our American League, National League, Interleague odds, and MLB Props for all your baseball action.

Toronto Blue Jays’ Chances of Trading for Ohtani

If any club, has the slightest chance of going for a player of Shohei Ohtani’s calibre, they should weigh their options, no? The 2021 AL MVP currently leads the MLB leader in home runs with 34, is hitting .301 as of July 17, and sports a good ERA of 3.50 as a starting pitcher.

Knowing that, David Bastl throws the big question “Gibby’s” way: should the Blue Jays trade for Ohtani?

“I don’t think he’s a fit there. They’re (L.A. Angels) gonna ask for too much. Ideally, they would have done it during the offseason, but it was a public relations nightmare, trading the best player in the world.”

Dodgers, Mariners, and Yankees in the Ohtani Sweepstakes

As per Sports Interactions’ props table for a Shohei landing spot, Toronto lags at +800. That, of course, means other franchises are front runners, should a trade happen at all. Of the favoured destinations, which is most likely according to Gibbons?

“Most people think he’ll end up with the Los Angeles Dodgers. They probably have the most money too. They’re like the Yankees. But never eliminate the Seattle Mariners, who have a bunch of young players. They have a history of having more Japanese players than anybody.”

This much is true. One need only think of Ichiro Suzuki, Kazuhiro Sasaki, and Kenji Johjima.

The former head coach offers a “big picture” question, one that puts the entire story into perspective: how many teams can afford Ohtani?

“Let’s not forget he has that fingernail problem. Blue Jays fans remember what happened to Aaron Sanchez. It started out as a blister, but then with the surgery, it became a nail problem and he never was the same.”

The Dodgers are +375 to land the superstar outfielder, the New York Yankees +350, and the Angels -475 to keep him by August 1. That doesn’t mean this won’t be his final season wearing an Angels uniform though.