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Call it a zag, but Alex Rodriguez has a wild idea to help rebuild the Los Angeles Angels.
With the MLB trade deadline approaching and superstar Shohei Ohtani set to hit free agency this offseason, Rodriguez suggested the organization trade not only the 2021 AL MVP, but also fellow star Mike Trout.
Rodriguez brought up the idea while on FS1’s broadcast before Monday’s Home Run Derby in Seattle for the All-Star game.
“I think it should be a serious, serious situation and a bold step,” Rodriguez said (2:05 in the video below). “I think Angeles will win a world championship in five years if they do this, first, you trade Ohtani, then you trade Trout. And you try to get five or six players, load of first rounders and the next thing you have to do is bring in a guy like Theo Epstein, give him ownership and let him run the shop.”
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The crew gave their thoughts on whether the Angels should trade Shohei Ohtani@kevinburkhardt | @AROD | @davidortiz | @derekjeter pic.twitter.com/pSuQWCqzlv
While trading Ohtani is always a distant possibility, as the Angels are far from a lock to bring back the possibly $600 million manselling two of the franchise’s biggest assets in one run was a devastating move.
If they can’t re-sign Ohtani, it’s in the Angels’ best interest to embark on a full rebuild, acquire some elite prospects and work toward the future after a decade of not clear.
However, trading first-round picks is not allowed by MLB, despite Rodriguez’s idea.
But that doesn’t seem to be in the cards as team owner Arte Moreno “has every intention” of keeping Ohtani until the end of the season with hopes the organization will bring the two-way superstar back, according to Bob in USA Today Nightingale.
However, considering the Angels already paid Trout $426 million in 2019, Ohtani’s retention likely means they have nearly $1 billion on the books tied to the two players.
Two of the greatest talents the game has ever seen, but two players nonetheless.
And so far, Los Angeles hasn’t been able to build a contender around two all-time talents in the past few seasons and it doesn’t look like they’ll be able to anytime soon. It currently sits fourth in the AL West at 45-46, seven games behind the Texas Rangers.
None of those struggles were attributed to Ohtani or Trout, though. They are very good.
Ohtani leads the majors in homers with 32 and is batting .302/.387/.663 while pitching to the tune of a 7-4 record and 3.32 ERA. On the other hand, Trout has 18 home runs of his own and is hitting .263/.369/.493.
