Yankees 'motivated' to deal for Shohei Ohtani at trade deadline: Buster Olney
The Yankees are in need of some big help, and that has reportedly made them one of “the most motivated” teams to try and acquire Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani at the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
During Thursday’s episode of “Get Up” on ESPN, Buster Olney reported that the Yankees are interested in trying to add Ohtani, 29, to their roster.
“Well you start with the Yankees. The Yankees, the Yankees, the Yankees. The Rangers, the Rays, maybe a small handful of teams, but there’s no doubt, talking with sources yesterday, they see the Yankees as potentially being the most motivated,” Olney said. “Because Gerrit Cole, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, they’re middle-aged players right in the prime of their careers.
“This is the Yankees’ window to win now.”
The two-way superstar will hit free agency this winter, and the possibility he remains with the Angels is still up in the air.
Shohei Ohtani swings at a pitch in the fourth inning during the All-Star baseball game in Seattle on July 11, 2023. AP
As for the Yankees, they could be looking to infuse talent into both their lineup and pitching rotation, something Ohtani could fulfill.
They’ve been without Aaron Judge since the beginning of June, and their offense has lagged as the 2022 MVP remains sidelined.
The Yankees’ rotation has battled injuries all year, including Nestor Cortes, who has not pitched in a game since May 30.
They’ve largely played below expectations and entered the break with a 49-42 record, eight games back of the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East.
“You bring in Ohtani and Suddenly the Yankees rotation with him involved looks so strong,” Olney said. “Ohtani hitting in Yankee Stadium, which favors left-handed sluggers. That’s something the Yankees would be willing to pay for if Ohtani is made available by the Angels.”
The Angels have remained publicly reluctant to the possibility of trading the generational talent, with owner Arte Moreno telling The Post last month, “I just don’t know how you replace a guy like that.”
“We want to win, and it’s nice to have him in the lineup. For me, it’s about the fans,” Moreno added.
However, with the situation in Los Angeles quickly devolving, dealing Ohtani for something of value before they potentially lose him on the open market could be enticing.
The Angels are seven games back of the AL West-leading Texas Rangers and five games back of the Toronto Blue Jays for the final wild card spot.
The Post’s Jon Heyman reported last week that members of the Angels organization are open to the “slight” possibility of an Ohtani trade.
The superstar is hitting .302 with 32 home runs and 71 RBIs for the Angels this season.
On the mound, Ohtani is 7-4 with a 3.32 ERA.
Ohtani has been impressive again in 2023. Getty Images
Ohtani is expected to get a record-setting deal over the winter as he makes a run at a potential second MVP award.
The Post reported that the Dodgers, Giants and Angels are among the candidates to be in play for the generational talent this winter.
Source: New York Post
