What Will It Take for Texas Rangers to Land Shohei Ohtani?

Here are all of the ways (so far) that baseball experts believe the Texas Rangers could land Shohei Ohtani via trade.
In this story:

The Texas Rangers are leading the American League West and are contenders to win the American League and reach the World Series.

Do they need another piece? A pitcher? A hitter? Is there one player out there that could do both?

Why, yes, of course, there is. Los Angeles Angels pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani.

With just days remaining until the Aug. 1 trade deadline, the Angels are assessing whether to trade their top player — who will be a free agent after this season — or keep him in an effort to re-sign him.

The Rangers are among the teams connected to a deal for Ohtani. Below are all the reported potential deal scenarios that could entice the Angels to deal Ohtani to the Rangers.

Rangers-Shohei Ohtani Trade Scenarios

Here are all of the different trade scenarios that have been proposed on baseball sites that would land Shohei Ohtani in Texas.

ESPN

The site proposed several deals that would move Ohtani to different teams, including the Rangers.

The deal ESPN proposed:

The Rangers get Ohtani.

The Angels get RHP Brock Porter, RHP Jack Leiter, OF Ezequiel Duran, 2B Justin Foscue, OF Yeison Morrobel

The deal would give the Angels one MLB-ready player in Duran, one that is nearly ready in Foscue, and three others that could be ready in the next 1-3 years. Both pitchers are among the highest-ranked prospects in the Rangers’ system. 

Fox Sports

The site proposed deals for 12 different teams that might want to deal for Ohtani.

The deal Fox Sports proposed:

The Rangers get Ohtani.

The Angels get RHP Jack Leiter, RHP Owen White, UT Ezequiel Duran, OF Aaron Zavala, IF Justin Foscue, RHP Emiliano Teodo

It’s a premium deal for the Angels. The Rangers surrender their top pitching prospect, White, along with Leiter. Duran and Foscue lead the bats. Zavala is at Double-A Frisco and Teodo probably needs two more years of development. But all of the prospects are in the Rangers’ MLB Top 30.

The Athletic

The site had its resident former general manager put together deals that could lead to the Rangers acquiring Ohtani.

The Athletic’s deal?

The Rangers get Ohtani.

The Angels get two of the following pitchers: Owen White, Brock Porter, Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker, along with outfielders Evan Carter and Dustin Harris, and second baseman Justin Foscue.

None are ready for the Majors, but White, Harris and Foscue are close. Carter could be ready next season. Rocker needs at least another year to recover from Tommy John surgery. But the deal requires five Top 30 Rangers prospects. 

More From SI’s Inside The Rangers:

  1. Texas Rangers New Nike City Connect Jersey Pay Homage to Dallas-Fort Worth
  2. No Pride in Texas, Rangers Lone Team Without Pride Night
  3. Watch: Eva Longoria Wins Over Texas Rangers Fans With First Pitch
  4. Texas Rangers in Play to Sing Shohei Ohtani
  5. Arlington Mayor Says Rougned Odor ‘Punch’ Mural to Stay
  6. Texas Rangers Clubhouse ‘Insane’ Says Reliever
  7. MLB, Texas Rangers Win Bally Sports Broadcast Suit
  8. AL West is ‘Ours,’ Not Astros Says Texas Rangers First Baseman
  9. Former Texas Rangers Favorite Derek Holland Comeback Ends
  10. Bally Sports Southwest to Televise Nearly All Rangers Games

You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram


Published
Matthew Postins
MATTHEW POSTINS

Matthew Postins is an award-winning sports journalist who covers the Texas Rangers for Fan Nation/SI and also writes about the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies. He also covers the Big 12 for HeartlandCollegeSports.com.