(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
As the second half of the 2023 season begins, so too does the speculation surrounding potential trades at the deadline.
Despite most around the game sharing the belief that Shohei Ohtani won’t be traded at the deadline, it appears that there is already some speculation that the Los Angeles Angels may listen to offers.
Former MLB catcher Erik Kratz does not believe that Ohtani will be traded.
However, he notes that not getting anything for him might not be the best course of action for the Halos.
Kratz then made a bold prediction, saying that the Baltimore Orioles might be a team that goes after the two-way star, via Foul Territory on Twitter.
Let the Shohei trade speculation begin
Should the @Orioles be in on Ohtani to try and take the AL East?
Watch Live:https://t.co/IGRqyJ7gpA pic.twitter.com/GGccJNOdDE
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) July 14, 2023
If the Angels don’t trade Ohtani and he leaves in free agency, the best the Angels can do is receive a compensatory draft pick.
There are currently no rumors suggesting that the Orioles are one of the teams that may be interested in Ohtani.
However, they are only two games back of the Tampa Bay Rays for the top spot in the American League East.
Kratz believes that if the O’s were to make a big splash such as this, they could have a chance to reach the World Series for the first time since 1983.
Baltimore owns a record of 54-35 on the season and enter the second half on a five-game winning streak.
They already have stars such as Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Cedric Mullins, Austin Hays, and Anthony Santander.
They also have plenty of young players in their system such as Grayson Rodriguez to potentially pull off a deal for Ohtani.
Adding him would make them a serious World Series contender.
The post Former MLB Catcher Predicts Orioles Will Go After Shohei Ohtani appeared first on The Cold Wire.