DH: Shohei Ohtani, Angels
The Angels emphasized their intention to keep Ohtani this winter, shooting down any talk of an offseason trade. But what if Los Angeles finds itself out of the race by May or June? The demand for Ohtani would be enormous, igniting a bidding war for the two-way superstar. Ohtani’s $30 million salary in 2023 is high, though it wouldn’t stop a number of teams from pursuing him for a second-half run to the postseason.
Buzz factor: High. This is not to say that people expect Ohtani to be dealt, but should the Angels make him available, he would immediately become the most highly sought-after trade candidate in years (or decades?). If the Angels don’t think they can retain him at the end of the season and aren’t true postseason contenders, it would be crazy for them not to entertain the idea of bringing back a haul of prospects for Ohtani.
MLB.com
Who else but the Dodgers would/could put this trade together for the 2nd half of the season?